Hathor

EGYPTIAN GODDESS
 
Hathor, in ancient Egyptian religion, goddess of the sky, of
women, and of fertility and love. Hathor’s worship originated in
early dynastic times (3rd millennium BCE). The name Hathor
means “estate of Horus” and may not be her original name. Her
principal animal form was that of a cow, and she was strongly
associated with motherhood. Hathor was closely connected with
the sun god Re of Heliopolis, whose “eye” or daughter she was
said to be. In her cult centre at Dandarah in Upper Egypt, she
was worshipped with Horus.

HathorHathor, relief on capitals at Philae island, southern Egypt

There were cults of Hathor in many towns in Egypt and also
abroad, for she was the patroness of foreign parts and of many
minerals won from the desert. In the Sinai turquoise mines, for
example, she was called “Lady of Turquoise.” At Dayr al-Baḥ rī, in
the necropolis of Thebes, she became “Lady of the West” and
patroness of the region of the dead. In the Late Period (1st
millennium BCE), women aspired to be assimilated with Hathor
in the next world, as men aspired to become Osiris. The Greeks
identified Hathor with their Aphrodite.