Egyptian mythology has a rich symbolism and a long line of powerful goddesses who guided the culture and religion of ancient Egypt. Hathor was a major goddess associated with motherhood and fertility, while Nut was the goddess of the night sky and Tefnut was the goddess of fertility and water. Isis was a widely worshipped goddess who represented motherhood and protection, while Nephthys was the protector of homes and associated with mourning. Neith was the goddess of hunting and warfare, who eventually became the patroness of women and the female arts. Sekhmet was the goddess of war and avenged wrongs, while Bast protected Lower Egypt and was associated with cats. These goddesses evolved over time to meet the needs of their worshippers and remain influential in cultures around the world.
Egyptian mythology is rich in symbolism and has an almost endless line of gods and goddesses that have populated the hearts and minds of the ancient Egyptians for more than 3,000 years. Women had a particularly high status in mythology and were powerful symbols that guided the culture and religion of the time. Egyptian goddesses often held superior positions over the male gods and were given great power and influence. The duality of female character in Egyptian mythology is interesting: many Egyptian goddesses were life-givers and understood the nurturing aspects of the female, while others were fierce warriors and defenders. Some Egyptian goddesses encompassed both aspects during the evolution many of the goddesses underwent over centuries of worship.
Hathor, also known as Hwt-Hr, was considered a cow deity from about 2700 BC. The cow is known throughout Egyptian mythology as a symbol of motherhood and fertility. He gives nourishing milk to mankind, just as the Egyptians believed Hathor did. Hathor is a major Egyptian goddess and the Milky Way was personified by her, for she was often perceived as the milk emanating from a celestial cow.
Later, Hathor came to be known as Mehturt, which translates to great flood. Water, another symbol of life and fertility, is prominent in Egyptian mythology. Mehturt was believed to oversee the annual change of the River Nile, likened to the rupture of the amniotic sac during birth.
Nut was another important Egyptian goddess. Her name translates to night sky, and she was goddess of the night sky, which included all celestial bodies. She aided in resurrection and rebirth and protected the earth from the cosmos. Another Egyptian goddess, Tefnut, was a goddess of fertility and water. Her name means wet waters.
Isis is perhaps one of the best known Egyptian goddesses. She was the object of cult worship that reached far outside of Egypt, to Rome, Greece, Iraq and even England. She was the symbolic wife and mother of all, a deified queen. The cult of the cult of Isis continued until the 6th century.
Nephthys was a goddess of air and sky. She was also considered the protector of a home. She was often depicted as a falcon, with wings outstretched and protective. Eventually, she evolved into a vulture and was associated with decay and death. Because of this, she was associated with mourning, and those mourning the death of loved ones turned to her for comfort.
Neith was another of the Egyptian goddesses who represented protection. She was the goddess of hunting and warfare. She was said to make weapons and protect the bodies of warriors.
Eventually, Neith’s warrior identity gave way to a more peaceful one, and she became the goddess of weaving. However, while she is portrayed as a weaver, she is shown holding weapons. She was also considered the patroness of women and the female arts, as well as marriage.
Sekhmet was the goddess of war for Upper Egypt. She avenged wrongs, ruled over menstruation, and protected the pharaoh. She was another Egyptian goddess portrayed as a fierce protector, a violent adversary.
Bast protected Lower Egypt and was known as the “devourer”. She was often depicted as a lion and protected the pharaoh. She at one point she was the sun goddess and, later, the moon goddess.
Bast eventually evolved to be associated with cats and was often depicted as one. The Egyptians deified cats and considered them excellent mothers and protectors. The mummified remains of thousands of Egyptian cats are proof that the animals were elevated to a high status. Bast was perhaps one of the most influential Egyptian goddesses and iconography of him is found throughout modern popular culture.
While there were many other lesser Egyptian goddesses and gods, most of the deities shared common attributes. They were either life givers or fierce warriors or protectors. They have all evolved over time to meet the current needs of their worshippers, and many of them remain powerful influences on cultures around the world, in both religion and mythology.
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