Very early representations of bovine associated goddesses/celestially related (p24)

"Each culture determines in its own way the form or forms that the supreme being or beings eventually take, but almost all cultures relate the form in some fashion to that of the person." p19

Divinities in predynastic Egypt often took the form of animals - Narmer Palette (First Dynasty) shows representation of animals emgaged in human activity/also features the head of bovine goddess/stars in background to show celestial link/human face with cows ears.

Egyptian gods multi-faceted unlike Greek/Roman gods who tended to have static roles and were identified with specific human emotions p23

With respect to Egypt, Hassan suggests that images of cow goddesses and their iconography have their origins in the early phases of cattle herding in the Sahara around 7000 BCE. If the female (both human/cow) was seen as the source of life and as nurturer, this might provide the early link between cattle and goddess. This association may have originally come about due to the unpreditable supply of water in the Sahara ~ in order to ensure that cattle (and consequentially humans) survived, women nurtured and protected calves and cows.

"Both cow and woman gave milk. Both were the source of generation and life. Droughts not only enfeebled cattle and people, but also wrought starvation and death. In the desert, the birthplace of Egyptian theology, life and death are paramount. Water, cattle, milk, and women were the source of regeneration and nourishment. Without water or milk there was nothing but sickness and death. These mental associations were of deep psychological significance. Together they laid the foundation of the fundamental notions of Egyptian religion: birth, death, and resurrection."

Severe droughts in the Sahara may have caused early Egyptians to resettle in the Nile Valley. Around 4500 BCE tribal chiefdoms began to be formed in the Nile Valley. Early ithyphallic gods and (cow?) goddesses "were conjoined with local territorial deities". Later these chiefdoms coalesced into a single nation state around 3200 BCE. According to Hassan, it was at this point that the role of divine king was born with a cosmogony brought into being to explain the king's link to the deities who had been incorporated and assimilated into the supporting myth. The king was seen as the descendant and heir of the gods. It was at this point, Hassan suggests, that the role of the primordial cow goddess changed into that of a supporting character.

Hathor was not the only goddess with bovine connections: Isis, Nut and Neith (plus others) shared that aspect at various times and in varying contexts.

Suckling the king;

Hathor partnered by Horus/Heru who had also had 7 concubines; 'goddess of love', she was also 'goddess of inebriation'; her devotees would drink to commune with her, also mixing in small quantities of narcotic substances.

Investigate law court/judgement of Seth on trial for Osiris' murder/behaviour of assembled gods ~ in order to resolve? the deadlocked trial, Hathor lifts her shirts to expose herself to her father to put him in a better mood, the act enabling the trial to progress/resolve. (p42) Look at role of Thoth.

Litigation between Seth and Horus due to Seth's rape of Horus/held on an island from which Isis was barred but who nonetheless managed to trick Nemti (boatman) in ferrying her across...

Horus decapitates his mother Isis (p55); Isis cuts off Horus's hands (see Seth's rape of Horus)

Horus/Heru, a warrior, liked to drink water into which grapes had been squeezed, to give courage in combat and ease pain.

Seth partnered by childless Nephthys but dallied with Astarte and Anat (acts like a warrior, dresses like a man); Seth was an excessive drinker (Setekh=the inebriated)

The gods' "flesh was gold, their bones silver, their hair lapis lazuli. . . robed in brilliance, wrapped in turquoise"/gods with black or blue skin had power to regenerate; eye colour could indicate a god's attributes and character - Re's eyes electrum, Seth's black eyes association with darkness; Atum's green eyes reflect his origins as a serpent; red eyes for feline/predatory gods to indicate dangerous, aggressive characters.

TBC

The imperishable metal was seen as symbolic of the sun, therefore symbolic of Re. Daughter of Re, Hathor was also his consort - the reference to her as the 'Golden One' indicates this link; the solar god Re had the epithet, 'The Mountain of Gold'.

Golden mirrors, symbolically associated with the sun, were offered to Hathor; some depicting her cow-eared face.

Hathor was a celestial or cosmic cow (Hassan) ~ closely linked to the sky; may have related to her role as one who provided nourishment to the souls of the dead.

The title 'The Golden Horus' was adopted by the first king of the First Dynasty (?) ~ a reference to the king's divinity as the son of Re.

Hathor is one of the three goddesses closely associated with kingship in early Egypt. (Hassan)

The King, Pharaoh, comes to dance,
He comes to sing;
Mistress, see the dancing,
Wife of Horus, see the skipping!

He offers it to you,
This jug;
Mistress, see the dancing,
Wife of Horus, see the skipping!

His heart is straight, his inmost open,
No darkness is in his breast;
Mistress, see the dancing,
Wife of Horus, see the skipping!

Behold him, Hathor, mistress, from heaven,
See him, Hathor, mistress, from light land,
Hear him, flaming one, from ocean!
Behold him, queen of gods, from sky, from earth,
From Nubia, from Libya, from Manu, from Bakhu,
From each land, from each place, where your majesty shines!

Behold what is in his inmost,
Though his mouth speaks not;
His heart is straight, his inmost open,
No darkness is in his breast!
He reveres you, O queen of gods,
Give that he may live!

p107, Miriam Lichtheim, Texts in the Classical Language, Ancient Egyptian Literature ~ Volume III: The Late Period.