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Hathor Rising: The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt
• The first book to seriously examine the feminine aspect of Egyptian religion sheds new light on the important role of the goddess Hathor-Sekhmet.
• This accessible study sheds much new light on ancient Egypt and provides a powerful new perspective on women's theology.
• The text is accompanied by nearly 200 striking and unusual illustrations
Drawing from temple art, myths, rituals, and poetry, Hathor Rising is the first book to seriously examine the feminine aspect of the complex Egyptian pantheon and to shed new light on the pivotal place held there by the fiery serpent-eyed goddess, Hathor-Sekhmet. The primary importance of this goddess is emphasized by the serpent coiled over the forehead of every pharaoh--the supreme symbol of royal power in ancient Egypt. The erotic vitality and fierce aggression of the goddess, qualities commonly perceived as masculine in nature, gives the reigning Pharaoh the capacity for dynamic leadership. The author explores the symbolism behind this and other manifestations of the goddess in Egyptian cosmology and provides new revelations on the rich tradition of feminine divinity in Egypt. Hathor Rising is the most important study of one of the world's oldest civilizations to appear in years.
• This accessible study sheds much new light on ancient Egypt and provides a powerful new perspective on women's theology.
• The text is accompanied by nearly 200 striking and unusual illustrations
Drawing from temple art, myths, rituals, and poetry, Hathor Rising is the first book to seriously examine the feminine aspect of the complex Egyptian pantheon and to shed new light on the pivotal place held there by the fiery serpent-eyed goddess, Hathor-Sekhmet. The primary importance of this goddess is emphasized by the serpent coiled over the forehead of every pharaoh--the supreme symbol of royal power in ancient Egypt. The erotic vitality and fierce aggression of the goddess, qualities commonly perceived as masculine in nature, gives the reigning Pharaoh the capacity for dynamic leadership. The author explores the symbolism behind this and other manifestations of the goddess in Egyptian cosmology and provides new revelations on the rich tradition of feminine divinity in Egypt. Hathor Rising is the most important study of one of the world's oldest civilizations to appear in years.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 20, 2022
4.5 stars
Hathor Rising is not really about Hathor as one might assume from the title. Nor is it really about the "serpent energy" in Kemetic theology, as one might assume from the subtitle. (Kemetic = ancient Egyptian) Or at least not all of it.
What it is, is a meandering, organically building tour through aspects of Kemetic solar religion as they pertain to kingship, mostly in the New Kingdom, and which are loosely tied to feminine deities. Most commonly Hathor and Isis.
Roberts treats the reader to everything from detailed descriptions of royal rituals, to the story of The Two Brothers , to an in-depth examination of the architecture of Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el Bari, to the sexual and incestual aspects of pharaonic legitimacy, to the development of Akhenaten's heretical, semi-monotheistic solar theology.
Lots of interesting details, but none of it laid out in a traditional linear fashion, which will frustrate those expecting a tight (masculine) scholarly style. The layout and printing is at a 1990s small scholarly press standard, with several of the photos being grainy or somewhat blurry.
While I found that Roberts spent way too much time describing some rituals, I very much appreciated her discussion of the gods Seth, Khons and Ihy. This last one, Hathor's son, "the dancing calf" Ihy, I haven't seen widely discussed elsewhere, making that section a treat. Also the alternate theories on Akhenaten's bizarre portrayals of himself as theologically-based and not evidence of physical handicap are intriguing.
This book is for intermediate and advanced lay readers of Egyptology. Those who do not have a firm footing in the basics of Kemetic theology or in kingship will most likely be lost for a great amount of the text.
Recommended for those broadly interested in the solar aspects of ancient Egyptian kingship and belief.
Hathor Rising is not really about Hathor as one might assume from the title. Nor is it really about the "serpent energy" in Kemetic theology, as one might assume from the subtitle. (Kemetic = ancient Egyptian) Or at least not all of it.
What it is, is a meandering, organically building tour through aspects of Kemetic solar religion as they pertain to kingship, mostly in the New Kingdom, and which are loosely tied to feminine deities. Most commonly Hathor and Isis.
Roberts treats the reader to everything from detailed descriptions of royal rituals, to the story of The Two Brothers , to an in-depth examination of the architecture of Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el Bari, to the sexual and incestual aspects of pharaonic legitimacy, to the development of Akhenaten's heretical, semi-monotheistic solar theology.
Lots of interesting details, but none of it laid out in a traditional linear fashion, which will frustrate those expecting a tight (masculine) scholarly style. The layout and printing is at a 1990s small scholarly press standard, with several of the photos being grainy or somewhat blurry.
While I found that Roberts spent way too much time describing some rituals, I very much appreciated her discussion of the gods Seth, Khons and Ihy. This last one, Hathor's son, "the dancing calf" Ihy, I haven't seen widely discussed elsewhere, making that section a treat. Also the alternate theories on Akhenaten's bizarre portrayals of himself as theologically-based and not evidence of physical handicap are intriguing.
This book is for intermediate and advanced lay readers of Egyptology. Those who do not have a firm footing in the basics of Kemetic theology or in kingship will most likely be lost for a great amount of the text.
Recommended for those broadly interested in the solar aspects of ancient Egyptian kingship and belief.
October 12, 2009
I like this book and find it an enjoyable read, but the author has a very tough thesis to work with. Roberts wants to show a continuity and evolution of ideas centering around the goddess cult of Hathor, who represents a lively and vital expression of the life-force in both peaceful and wrathful guises. While her account is plausible on its face it's extremely difficult in working with Egyptian material to establish any one deity or theme as basic to a collection of stories.
The problem lies in the nature of Egyptian religious culture, which employs a diverse array of transitive symbols to articulate its theology and cosmology. Because of the numerous references and uses attached to any symbol or idea and the great willingness of Egyptians to redeploy old symbols in a new context with new meanings, one could make a persuasive argument that any deity one chooses is the fundamental agent or principle in many of the stories in which it appears.
Roberts does succeed in illuminating the history of the Hathor cult and does a fine job of presenting Egyptian religious culture through this particular lens. She does not, and in my mind cannot, succeed in displaying that Hathor had the status she imputes to the people who originally told these stories, however. In other words, this is a revisionist religious history which illuminates the priorities of its author more than it discloses the nature of the source material.
The problem lies in the nature of Egyptian religious culture, which employs a diverse array of transitive symbols to articulate its theology and cosmology. Because of the numerous references and uses attached to any symbol or idea and the great willingness of Egyptians to redeploy old symbols in a new context with new meanings, one could make a persuasive argument that any deity one chooses is the fundamental agent or principle in many of the stories in which it appears.
Roberts does succeed in illuminating the history of the Hathor cult and does a fine job of presenting Egyptian religious culture through this particular lens. She does not, and in my mind cannot, succeed in displaying that Hathor had the status she imputes to the people who originally told these stories, however. In other words, this is a revisionist religious history which illuminates the priorities of its author more than it discloses the nature of the source material.
May 21, 2012
This book is a rare find, it is devoted to Hathor alone. In my search for a book that was devoted & had the needed information I was searching for, this was it. I had bought many books that mentioned Her, or included her with other Goddesses. But this book is for someone who is looking for the Goddess Hathor. In this book, you have found Her.
An excellent resource book, a wonderful read, all in one. The best book on Her, so far.
An excellent resource book, a wonderful read, all in one. The best book on Her, so far.
June 27, 2016
Rounded up from 3.5 stars
I am not an expert in Ancient Egypt religion. Perhaps if I was, I would understand this book better. Hathor Rising left me unsatisfied and bothered, although I can't entirely say why.
The very beginning of this book was confusing. I understand that the Ancient Egyptian religion lasted for over four thousand years and different gods rose to prominence at various times. The prominent gods of the time also absorbed aspects and qualities of other gods. However, the first thing the author talks about is 'the' serpent goddess and her power throughout the ages. The author goes on to talk about the cobra goddess, Wadjet, although this goddess isn't actually named until forty pages or so in. I wondered if this shouldn't be a book about the influence of Wadjet rather than Hathor.
I will freely admit that perhaps I missed something in the reading. The author seems to say that Hathor is a serpent goddess simply because she wears the Uraeus as part of her crown and she is also called the Eye of Ra. The author states on page 8, "...For the power of Hathor is so ubiquitous, and so identified with serpent energy, that it is impossible to understand the core of the Egyptian religion without going more deeply into her nature."
HOW is she identified with serpent energy? Until I picked up this book, I haven't read anything about Hathor and serpent energy. She also mentions an image on page 44 that is supposed to make clear the connection of how the Uraeus and Hathor's cow are the same solar energy but she doesn't say what the connection is, unless it is the fact that both serpents and cows are all shown in the image.
The book continues on like this, but after the first few chapters, the book wanders around the next several dynasties of kings and instead of Hathor rising in prominence, she seems to disappear altogether, except for her sistrum and menat necklace, which were apparently still used in ritual. That serpent energy is still in evidence though. Somehow. The book also has chapters on Hatshepsut as well as Ankhenaten.
I applaud Ms. Roberts for tackling the subject, but I found the result confusing. The book is supposed to be about Hathor - who is symbolized by a cow, but she begins by talking about serpent energy and that is a constant thread throughout the book. It is supposed to be clear how Hathor fits in to all this. Some chapters aren't even about Hathor at all.
The early chapters that actually feature Hathor were fairly informative, especially in relation to the Pharoah. The later chapters were hard to get through. I am glad to have read it, confusing as it was. Perhaps if I reread it, some of the confusion may clear up. Somehow, I doubt it, but it might.
I am not an expert in Ancient Egypt religion. Perhaps if I was, I would understand this book better. Hathor Rising left me unsatisfied and bothered, although I can't entirely say why.
The very beginning of this book was confusing. I understand that the Ancient Egyptian religion lasted for over four thousand years and different gods rose to prominence at various times. The prominent gods of the time also absorbed aspects and qualities of other gods. However, the first thing the author talks about is 'the' serpent goddess and her power throughout the ages. The author goes on to talk about the cobra goddess, Wadjet, although this goddess isn't actually named until forty pages or so in. I wondered if this shouldn't be a book about the influence of Wadjet rather than Hathor.
I will freely admit that perhaps I missed something in the reading. The author seems to say that Hathor is a serpent goddess simply because she wears the Uraeus as part of her crown and she is also called the Eye of Ra. The author states on page 8, "...For the power of Hathor is so ubiquitous, and so identified with serpent energy, that it is impossible to understand the core of the Egyptian religion without going more deeply into her nature."
HOW is she identified with serpent energy? Until I picked up this book, I haven't read anything about Hathor and serpent energy. She also mentions an image on page 44 that is supposed to make clear the connection of how the Uraeus and Hathor's cow are the same solar energy but she doesn't say what the connection is, unless it is the fact that both serpents and cows are all shown in the image.
The book continues on like this, but after the first few chapters, the book wanders around the next several dynasties of kings and instead of Hathor rising in prominence, she seems to disappear altogether, except for her sistrum and menat necklace, which were apparently still used in ritual. That serpent energy is still in evidence though. Somehow. The book also has chapters on Hatshepsut as well as Ankhenaten.
I applaud Ms. Roberts for tackling the subject, but I found the result confusing. The book is supposed to be about Hathor - who is symbolized by a cow, but she begins by talking about serpent energy and that is a constant thread throughout the book. It is supposed to be clear how Hathor fits in to all this. Some chapters aren't even about Hathor at all.
The early chapters that actually feature Hathor were fairly informative, especially in relation to the Pharoah. The later chapters were hard to get through. I am glad to have read it, confusing as it was. Perhaps if I reread it, some of the confusion may clear up. Somehow, I doubt it, but it might.
July 28, 2011
Towards the end I felt the author loses Hathor a little, but otherwise a very good book. Made me realize how intensely sexual and cyclical ancient Egyptian religion was. I plan to read the next installment by Roberts.
July 6, 2024
Although it's named for Hathor and focuses on her, this book is really about the roles of female deities in general. It draws most of its evidence from a limited period, the early New Kingdom. Subjects include the myth of the Eye of Ra, a companion to the sun god that can be equated with many goddesses, including Hathor; the role of Hathor in the sun god's journey through the daytime sky; the role of Mut in the Theban triad of gods with her husband Amun and son Khonsu; Isis as a companion to Min and Amun; Isis' role in the struggle between Horus and Seth; and the ambiguous position of female divinity in Akhenaten's religious revolution. All those are worthy subjects, but Roberts talks about the background for each of them in a little too much depth, so the common thread of the goddess' role is more difficult to follow than it should be. And she never draws a general conclusion out of the individual examples, so it's hard to get a bead on how goddesses were perceived overall.
A follow-up to this book, My Heart, My Mother: Death and Rebirth in Ancient Egypt, addresses the role of goddesses in the late New Kingdom and in afterlife beliefs. However, a full discussion of female divinity in ancient Egypt would have to cover the Late and Ptolemaic periods, when temple rites were increasingly focused on family triads of deities and the birth of divine children, and therefore gave goddesses higher standing than they had in New Kingdom times.
A follow-up to this book, My Heart, My Mother: Death and Rebirth in Ancient Egypt, addresses the role of goddesses in the late New Kingdom and in afterlife beliefs. However, a full discussion of female divinity in ancient Egypt would have to cover the Late and Ptolemaic periods, when temple rites were increasingly focused on family triads of deities and the birth of divine children, and therefore gave goddesses higher standing than they had in New Kingdom times.
February 4, 2015
Disappointing; a very disorganized and subjective reconstruction of Ancient Egyptian religion, with emphasis on "the female serpent power." The later sections on Hapshepsut's temple and the Amarna period are somewhat more coherent, but have little to do with Hathor. Barbara Lesko's Great Goddesses of Egypt was a much better account of Hathor and the other goddesses.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews