Egyptian votive textile, c.1500BC
This textile was painted by an Egyptian around 3500 years ago. It shows the goddess Hathor as a sacred cow with a sun disc. She is being worshipped by a woman. Hathor could also appear as a woman with cow horns.
Hathor was also known as "the Great One of Many Names". She had power over anything to do with women. This piece of material was probably placed on an altar as an offering by a woman.
This painted textile entered Hull's museums from the collections of Mr. Robert de Rustafjaell in 1911. He was a British-American collector and author. Robert was born in Birmingham and later lived in Egypt as a geologist and mining engineer. He emigrated to America after World War I and changed his name to Colonel Prince Roman Orbeliani.
This textile is from a temple of Mentuhotep II, at Deir el-Bahari, on the west bank of Thebes. Rustafiaell probably bought it with similar votive linens in Luxor in 1906 from locals who had found them at Deir el-Bahari.
This Egyptian textile shows the sacred cow of Hathor. Hathor mostly appears as a cow with beautifully painted eyes. Her sacred colour is turquoise. When she appears as a woman she often has a pair of elegant cow horns. Hathor has many titles and was important in every area of life for the ancient Egyptians.
She was known as "Lady of Stars" and "Sovereign of Stars". As "the Mother of Mothers" she was the goddess of women, fertility, children and childbirth. She had power over anything having to do with women. This included problems with childbirth through to health and beauty matters. She was worshipped by both male and female priests. More festivals were dedicated to her and more children named after her than any other Egyptian god or goddess.
