Ninhursag vs Hathor: Comparing Ancient Fertility Goddesses

Origins and Identity

Ninhursag, a deity of profound significance. She stands as a central figure in Mesopotamian mythology, revered as the mother of gods and the goddess of the earth and nature. Known also as Ninmah, Nintud, Ki, and many other names in different texts, Ninhursag's identity varies across different cultures within the ancient Near East, each reflecting her multifaceted role in the pantheon. Ninhursag is celebrated for her nurturing essence and her pivotal role in the creation and sustenance of life.

Hathor, because she was a prehistoric goddess, it is difficult to discern the origins of nature and worship, but her presence is evident from prehistoric times continuously into the period of Roman domination. Her aspects included animals, plants, sky, sun, trees and minerals, and she ruled the realms of love, sex and fertility, and she also had a vengeful side capable of destroying humanity.

Ninhursag vs Hathor: Comparing Ancient Fertility Goddesses

Names and Interpretations

Ninhursag is often conflated with or considered synonymous with several other goddesses due to overlapping attributes and functions. Ki, as mentioned before, is often identified with the earth itself and is considered one of the earliest deities in Sumerian mythology. Ninhursag, also known as the mother of all living and a goddess of the earth and fertility, shares many attributes with Ki, leading to their frequent identification with one another.

The name Hathor in Egyptian, ḥwt-ḥr, means ‘House of Horus’ and is written in Hieroglyphics with a rectangular sign of a building, with the symbol of the falcon Horus inside.

Visual Depictions and Symbols

Ninhursag was typically portrayed with a serene and majestic demeanor, reflecting her nurturing nature and divine status. Similar to other major deities, Ninhursag often wore a horned headdress symbolizing her power and divine nature. She was usually shown in long, flowing robes that draped elegantly to her feet, which were richly decorated with symbols of the earth and fertility.

Images of Hathor emphasise her basic appearance as a cow goddess. She is often shown as a female figure wearing a headdress consisting of a sun disc between two long cow horns. In later periods, the headdress may include two long feathers standing between the horns; or she may wear an eagle's hat. Hathor often wore a minat, a necklace made of many strands of beads balanced by a heavy pendant at the back.

Ninhursag and Hathor

Divine Domains

Earth and Fertility Ninhursag was primarily revered as a goddess of fertility and the earth. She had the power to create life and was often invoked for her blessings on crops and gardens, ensuring the earth was fruitful. This power extended to the creation of both plants and animals. Making her a central figure in myths related to the origins of life and the sustenance of populations.

Hathor was also a goddess associated with love, sex and fertility. In another ivory inscription from the First Dynasty, Hathor is shown surrounded by signs of Min, a god known for fertility, indicating their affiliation. The Greeks likened her to Aphrodite, their goddess of love and beauty.

Healer and Midwife Roles

One of Ninhursag's most notable powers was her ability to heal. In the myths, she heals other gods, most famously in the story of Enki and Ninhursag, where she heals Enki after he is poisoned by plants he had forbiddenly consumed.

Hathor appears in medical texts as well as in prayers related to pregnancy and childbirth. One of her titles was “Lady of the Vulva,” and she is considered a source of assistance in conception and childbirth.

Relationship with Other Gods

Enki, as the most famous consort of Ninhursag, significantly impacts the myths surrounding the fertility and life-giving aspects of the earth. Their union is symbolic of the harmonization of water and earth, essential elements for cultivation and growth.

At Dendera Hathor was in close relationship with Horus at Edfu, a nearby site. In this case she was not Horus' mother but his wife, and bore him two children, Ehi and Harsomtus.

Role in Kingship and Authority

Ninhursag was sometimes invoked as a protector of kings in their territories. She was believed to grant kingship as a divine right and protect the boundaries of nations, linking her powers to political authority and the stability of kingdoms.

Hathor's importance in the institution of kingship was solidified from its earliest stages. Because Horus was the first royal deity, Hathor symbolically became the divine mother of the pharaoh. The image of Hathor as a cow suckling the pharaoh was common in the New Kingdom, emphasizing the divine aspect of the king.

Centers of Worship

Ninhursag was deeply revered across Mesopotamia, with her worship particularly prominent in cities like Uruk, where majestic temples stood as testaments to her significance. The rituals often involved offerings of food and crafts, reflecting her role as a fertility goddess and protector of artisans and farmers.

Dendera in Upper Egypt was an important early site for Hathor, where she was worshipped as the “Lady of Dendera (Ionet).” Her worship also appeared in scattered areas in southern Egypt. Based on the distribution of titles within her cult, the Giza-Saqqara region appears to have been the center of worship in the Old Kingdom.

Myths and Transformation

The story of the destruction of humanity: the elderly Ra, who rules the earth, sends Hathor to punish his rebellious subjects. When Ra witnesses the destruction wrought by Hathor, he regrets his decision and tries to prevent her from continuing, flooding the earth with beer dyed to resemble blood. She gets drunk, unharmed, and the people survive.

Enki and Ninhursag in Dilmun: the myth highlights the dynamic relationship between the deities as they shape landscapes and life. Ninhursag, as Earth Mother, plays a central role in bringing balance and healing.

Symbols and Sacred Objects

Ninhursag was represented through various symbols that highlighted her nurturing and creative powers. One of her most distinctive symbols was the Omega-like shape which was frequently associated with Ninhursag. She was closely linked to symbols of fertility such as deer and lush vegetation.

Hathor's two most recognizable and sacred objects were the musical goddess Sistrum and the necklace of Manat, which could be shaken like Sistrum; both were used in dance and music rituals.

Symbols Ninhursag and Hathor

Festivals and Public Rituals

The veneration of Ninhursag included invoking her name during important life events, particularly those related to birth and motherhood, acknowledging her as the ultimate midwife and mother figure.

The calendar in the Temple of Dendera lists more than twenty-five festivals celebrated for Hathor. On New Year's Day, her cult statue was brought to the roof of her temple so that she could unite with Ra in the form of sunlight. Hathor's most prominent and elaborate festival was her sacred marriage as Queen of Dendera to Horus of Edfu.

Conclusion

Hathor was one of the most complex and enigmatic Egyptian goddesses, and also one of the most enduring. It is clear that she played a vital role in Egyptian society from the highest to the lowest levels.

Ninhursag, the revered mother goddess of ancient Mesopotamia, stands as a monumental figure in the annals of mythology. Her legacy transcends the mere narratives inscribed on clay tablets. It is woven into the very core of Mesopotamian civilization as a deity of fertility, creation and healing.

Written by H. Moses

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