This week I read this paper entitled “Hathor and Isis in Byblos in the Second and First Millenia BCE” and it was interesting understand more the cult dynamic of different goddesses in a important place for the Ancient Egypt commerce.
Byblos was a city localizated close to the current city of Beirut (Lebanon). Some of egyptologists suggested that Byblos was a Egyptian colony in the Old Kingdom (2700-2200 BC). In fact, Byblos served as a port to which Egyptians came for building wood for coffins, boats, and architecture.
Some registers shows that the port city has an ancient and unknown “Mistress of Byblos”. The paper author brings the idea of the goddess Bat being this ancient goddess, because after a several years, the “Mistress of Byblos” was identified as Hathor (Hethert). And these two goddesses have in common the important symbolism of a cow.
In Byblos, Hethert was also conected with the navigation and boats and sometimes she was called “Hathor of Dendera who lives in Byblos”.
The cult of Isis (Aset) increasing in all the Egypt mainly in the New Kingdom and occurred a strong syncretism between her and Hethert. Many of the characteristics and roles of Hethert we also can see in Aset such as the cow iconography. Aset was increasing in cult, power and influence in Egypt as a in Byblos. Even the ancient symbol of the shipping attributed early to Hethert, Aset gained posteriorly.
The thing is, Hethert played an important role for egyptians and alike in Byblos begining in the last half of the third millennium BCE. Aset which appears lately in Byblos, played this important role in the second quarter of the first millennium BCE. Sometimes the “Mistress of Byblos” was called Aset, Aset-Hethert or Hethert-Aset.
*(pt/br)*
Esta semana li este artigo intitulado “Hathor e Ísis em Biblos no Segundo e Primeiro Milênio AC” e foi interessante entender mais a dinâmica do culto de diferentes deusas em um lugar importante para o comércio do Antigo Egito.
Byblos era uma cidade localizada perto da atual cidade Beirute (Líbano). Alguns egiptólogos sugeriram que Biblos era uma colônia egípcia no Reino Antigo (2700-2200 aC). Biblos servia como um porto ao qual os egípcios vinham para construir madeira para caixões, barcos e arquitetura em geral.
Alguns registros mostram que a cidade portuária possui uma antiga e desconhecida “Senhora de Biblos”. A autora do artigo traz a ideia de Bat sendo essa deusa ancestral, pois anos depois, a “Senhora de Biblos” foi identificada como Hathor (Hethert). Essas duas deusas têm em comum o importante simbolismo da vaca.
Em Byblos, Hethert também estava conectada com a navegação e os barcos e às vezes era chamada de “Hathor de Dendera que mora em Byblos”.
O culto a Ísis (Aset) aumentou em todo o Egito principalmente no Novo Império e ocorreu um forte sincretismo entre ela e Hethert. Muitas das características e funções de Hethert também podemos ver em Aset, como a iconografia da vaca. Aset estava crescendo em culto, poder e influência no Egito assim como em Biblos. Até mesmo o antigo símbolo da navegação atribuído a Hethert, Aset ganhou posteriormente.
O fato é que Hethert desempenhou um papel importante para os egípcios e semelhantes em Biblos, começando na última metade do terceiro milênio AC. Aset, que apareceu recentemente em Biblos, desempenhou esse importante papel no segundo quarto do primeiro milênio AC. Às vezes, a “Senhora de Biblos” era chamada de Aset, Aset-Hethert ou Hethert-Aset.
It’s been awhile since I’ve had the time to work and finish a piece. But this weekend my fiance and I found a bit of time to craft. Now that the weather has turned, we will likely be doing more of this and you’ll see more pieces coming back out through here.
Hethert for me is just…warmth and joy. She’s elation and love, understanding and comfort. There’s something about her that is perfectly soft. She’s love and warmth, and this piece for me was all about embodying that.
She is about 6"H x 4"D x 3"W and is hand sculpted out of polymer clay as well as Resin cast on a metal filigree frame, hand painted, and hung on a white cotton cord. Her fur collar is real arctic fox fur.
