Dictionary of The Gods of Birth

Question 1

What does Hathor mean?

Answer 1

that domain/mansion of Horus

Question 2

What is Hathor considered to be in certain myths

Answer 2

The eye of Ra or the daughter of Ra

Question 3

What are Hathor’s different forms

Answer 3

In myths about destruction of mankind she is called the “distant goddess” and is a fierce goddess under the lioness form
in bovine form she is a maternal goddess

Question 4

What are Hathor’s expertise?

Answer 4

sexuality and the fertility of women, joy, dance and music

Question 5

Sistrum of the Singer of Amun and Isis henuttaouy

Answer 5

The sistrum has a handle surmounted by an arch with transverse rods
* There were bronze washers that clink together when the sistrum is shaken

Question 6

what does the sistrum sound like when shaken

Answer 6

The rustling of papyrus plants shaken by the breeze

Question 7

What effect does the sound of the sistrum have of Hathor and male gods?

Answer 7

o Noise calmed fury of Hathor when she changed to fierce form
o Sistrum noise aroused male god

Question 8

What were birth house in ancient Egypt called?

Answer 8

mamisi

Question 9

what were the functions of a mamisi?

Answer 9

Small chapel built near main temple with particular function
o celebration, through the rite and the representations on the walls, of the divine birth

Question 10

Mamisi of Edfu

Answer 10

• celebrates the birth of Harsomptus, “Horus the child”, Horus as a divine infant
• here he is the son of Horus and Hathor
• Hathor is referred to as nb.t msw.t “mistress of birth”

Question 11

what is destinys at a childs birth?

Answer 11

Shai