Relief of a Female Deity's Head

This goddess wears the sun disk and horns on top of a modius. At the lower right corner may be seen the curved contour of her hand which is raised palm outward. Although the crown is worn by both Hathor and Isis, Hathor is the goddess more frequently depicted in New Kingdom temples.

In very early times Hathor was regarded as the mother of Horus, the first royal god, and then later was connected with the royal god Re as mother, wife, and daughter. Integrally bound with the notion of Egyptian kingship throughout its history, she appears in innumerable temple scenes supporting, escorting or receiving the king. In this relief Hathor’s raised hand indicates she stood supportively , like a spouse or parent, behind another god or the king.

It has long been noted that the goddess’s features resemble relief images from the reign of the pharaoh Seti II. Indeed, the high cranium, prominent chin, and squared off lips appear in his images. It has been suggested this relief represented his queen Tawosret, who after a few years briefly succeeded him as female king, but at the disk and horns crown and the conservative wig in combination speak for this being the image of a goddess.