I have so much to say about Ancient AEgyptian Sacred Science of the Stars I not sure where to start so I've decided with my last dream early this Australian morning re the 50,000 year Sothic ie Sirian anniversary now happening as Jupiter begins its yearly transit of Cancer where in the middle 13 & 14 degrees reside Sirius both the brightest and only star of the entire heavens that doesn't move proving that this star with its 50 year rotation aka Jubilee
The Egyptian religion was solar in general, and there are a number of solar goddesses such as Sekhmet and Hathor, who were incredibly popular and important. Dedications and shrines to Hathor are among the most popular at the Deir el Medina village, and she is later associated with Ma'at, the cosmic order herself. As you point out, she is the "calmed down" version of Sekhmet, but she is hardly passive: she is the goddess of joy and exuberance and beauty, in a very extraverted manner, "projecting power" just as as Sekhmet, only as a warming sunlight rather than fiery ray of death. Truly both of these deities are worth considering as complimentary forms within a solar schema.
I completely understand the appeal of seeing Hathor and Sekhmet as complementary gods, one gentle and nurturing, the other fierce and punishing. However, following your comment and after giving it some more thought, I have to say that I think it's more profound than that. The two goddesses are not merely complementary; they're essentially the same deity, manifesting different aspects and divine powers based on their historical and geographical origins, as well as their mythical purpose.
Having reviewed the evidence, particularly the narrative of the Destruction of Mankind from the Book of the Heavenly Cow [however, I must admit that I did not make this entirely clear in my article, so thank you for highlighting my shortcomings], the sun god Re sends his eye, in the form of a fierce lioness goddess, to punish rebellious humanity. The lioness is Sekhmet, a being of pure wrath and divine retribution. But when Re has second thoughts and fears the total annihilation of humankind, he tricks her. Sekhmet drinks the blood-red beer and becomes intoxicated, transforming into the gentler Hathor, the goddess of joy, music, and love.
"Then Ra said, 'Call her back. Let her come in peace.' And so she became Hathor." (Book of the Heavenly Cow, trans. E.A. Wallis Budge.)
So, this is not a partnership between the two goddesses; rather, it's a metamorphosis from the enraged Sekhmet to the gentler Hathor. Sekhmet becomes Hathor. She does not join her, nor does she complement her; she is her but in a different emotional state.
Ancient Egyptian religion is rich with similar dualities that exist within singular gods. Hathor and Sekhmet operate along the same principle.
• When the goddess is pleased, she is Hathor: nurturing, sensual, and the motherly cow.
• When she is angered, she becomes Sekhmet: the lioness, the destroyer.
Egyptologist Geraldine Pinch summarises this beautifully:
"Hathor was not simply the goddess of love and joy. She had a terrifying aspect that appeared when her anger was aroused, the Eye of Re. That Eye could manifest as Sekhmet." (Handbook of Egyptian Mythology, 2002).
Even their iconography supports this argument. Many temple complexes, such as those at Kom Ombo and Dendera, house shrines to both goddesses with inscriptions that refer to them in overlapping or identical roles.
• Both are depicted wearing the solar disc and uraeus, symbolising their identity as the "Eye of Re."
• In some priestly hymns, their names are used interchangeably depending on the ritual context.
If you think about it psychologically, anger and love aren't opposites or complementary. They don't combine in such a way as to enhance or emphasise the qualities of each other or another. The opposite of love is hate, and the opposite of anger is calm. Love and anger are, instead, both intense, reactive states born from deep emotional involvement.
• When the goddess acts out of love for Re she nurtures him as Hathor.
• When that same love turns into wrath against his enemies, she is Sekhmet.
It's not duality in the conventional sense but rather the two sides of the same coin.
So, while I appreciate the idea that Hathor and Sekhmet function as complementary goddesses, I believe it's more accurate and compelling to view them as a single goddess whose nature shifts depending on the requirements of ma'at.
I should have made it more clear that they are not only complimentary but as you pointed out, the same being. Both being called the Eye of Ra and associated with the sun. They both seem to emphasize strong emotion, whether positive or negative. Neither are a goddess of half-measures.
I am a male dreamer...., here in a Southern hemisphere backwater Australia & about ten years ago had a powerful life changing dream .....in its beginning I found myself and I don't know how, inside the Billionaires Club & claimed b4 any one else the vacant best seat in the house....a crystal M for Maat shaped seat from Ancient Aegypt ......my understanding of their Alchemical praxis is what the planet needs now to uplift it's Spirit & Nous....God bless your efforts and now Jupiter is in Cancer it's sign of exaltation the next 12'moonths not only cananything happen but all Good due!
I have so much to say about Ancient AEgyptian Sacred Science of the Stars I not sure where to start so I've decided with my last dream early this Australian morning re the 50,000 year Sothic ie Sirian anniversary now happening as Jupiter begins its yearly transit of Cancer where in the middle 13 & 14 degrees reside Sirius both the brightest and only star of the entire heavens that doesn't move proving that this star with its 50 year rotation aka Jubilee
The Egyptian religion was solar in general, and there are a number of solar goddesses such as Sekhmet and Hathor, who were incredibly popular and important. Dedications and shrines to Hathor are among the most popular at the Deir el Medina village, and she is later associated with Ma'at, the cosmic order herself. As you point out, she is the "calmed down" version of Sekhmet, but she is hardly passive: she is the goddess of joy and exuberance and beauty, in a very extraverted manner, "projecting power" just as as Sekhmet, only as a warming sunlight rather than fiery ray of death. Truly both of these deities are worth considering as complimentary forms within a solar schema.
Hi Horus of the Prairie,
As always, it's great to hear from you.
I completely understand the appeal of seeing Hathor and Sekhmet as complementary gods, one gentle and nurturing, the other fierce and punishing. However, following your comment and after giving it some more thought, I have to say that I think it's more profound than that. The two goddesses are not merely complementary; they're essentially the same deity, manifesting different aspects and divine powers based on their historical and geographical origins, as well as their mythical purpose.
Having reviewed the evidence, particularly the narrative of the Destruction of Mankind from the Book of the Heavenly Cow [however, I must admit that I did not make this entirely clear in my article, so thank you for highlighting my shortcomings], the sun god Re sends his eye, in the form of a fierce lioness goddess, to punish rebellious humanity. The lioness is Sekhmet, a being of pure wrath and divine retribution. But when Re has second thoughts and fears the total annihilation of humankind, he tricks her. Sekhmet drinks the blood-red beer and becomes intoxicated, transforming into the gentler Hathor, the goddess of joy, music, and love.
"Then Ra said, 'Call her back. Let her come in peace.' And so she became Hathor." (Book of the Heavenly Cow, trans. E.A. Wallis Budge.)
So, this is not a partnership between the two goddesses; rather, it's a metamorphosis from the enraged Sekhmet to the gentler Hathor. Sekhmet becomes Hathor. She does not join her, nor does she complement her; she is her but in a different emotional state.
Ancient Egyptian religion is rich with similar dualities that exist within singular gods. Hathor and Sekhmet operate along the same principle.
• When the goddess is pleased, she is Hathor: nurturing, sensual, and the motherly cow.
• When she is angered, she becomes Sekhmet: the lioness, the destroyer.
Egyptologist Geraldine Pinch summarises this beautifully:
"Hathor was not simply the goddess of love and joy. She had a terrifying aspect that appeared when her anger was aroused, the Eye of Re. That Eye could manifest as Sekhmet." (Handbook of Egyptian Mythology, 2002).
Even their iconography supports this argument. Many temple complexes, such as those at Kom Ombo and Dendera, house shrines to both goddesses with inscriptions that refer to them in overlapping or identical roles.
• Both are depicted wearing the solar disc and uraeus, symbolising their identity as the "Eye of Re."
• In some priestly hymns, their names are used interchangeably depending on the ritual context.
If you think about it psychologically, anger and love aren't opposites or complementary. They don't combine in such a way as to enhance or emphasise the qualities of each other or another. The opposite of love is hate, and the opposite of anger is calm. Love and anger are, instead, both intense, reactive states born from deep emotional involvement.
• When the goddess acts out of love for Re she nurtures him as Hathor.
• When that same love turns into wrath against his enemies, she is Sekhmet.
It's not duality in the conventional sense but rather the two sides of the same coin.
So, while I appreciate the idea that Hathor and Sekhmet function as complementary goddesses, I believe it's more accurate and compelling to view them as a single goddess whose nature shifts depending on the requirements of ma'at.
I should have made it more clear that they are not only complimentary but as you pointed out, the same being. Both being called the Eye of Ra and associated with the sun. They both seem to emphasize strong emotion, whether positive or negative. Neither are a goddess of half-measures.
I am a male dreamer...., here in a Southern hemisphere backwater Australia & about ten years ago had a powerful life changing dream .....in its beginning I found myself and I don't know how, inside the Billionaires Club & claimed b4 any one else the vacant best seat in the house....a crystal M for Maat shaped seat from Ancient Aegypt ......my understanding of their Alchemical praxis is what the planet needs now to uplift it's Spirit & Nous....God bless your efforts and now Jupiter is in Cancer it's sign of exaltation the next 12'moonths not only cananything happen but all Good due!