Monumental Gate of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), detail of the lintel:
from left to right, Ihy, Harsomptus, the Hathor-head, Harsomptus (serpent-headed), and Horus son of Isis; below, the Winged Solar Orb representing Horus of Behdet flanked by the Two Uraei
“Ra-somtou Who resides in Iunet (Dendera)”,
Rasomtou (Rˁ-sm3-t3wy , ‘Ra the Unifier of the Two Lands’) in His form of sacred serpent rising from the great lotus flower within a sacred boat.
Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’) in His form of the Serpent “Site” (s3-t3, the “son of the earth”) is identified with Ra, and in this aspect is often called “Rasomtou”.
Scene from the ceiling of the Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), easternmost strip
scene from the exterior wall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera):
the King (to the right, wearing the White Crown) bringing offerings to the Gods;
before the King is represented Harsomtou the Child (wearing the Triple Atef Crown) playing the sistrum and the menat-necklace; behind Him, Ihy the Child (wearing the Double Crown) playing the sistrum before Hathor, Isis, Horus, and Harsomtou Lord of Khadi.
On the lower frieze, a row of open lotus flowers and buds
– HYMN TO HARSOMPTUS –
from the “Hymns of the Feast of the Proceeding to Khadi (the divine seat of Harsomptus, near Iunet)” (1-5 Khonsu-Pakhons);
from the inscriptions of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet
(Dendera II, 166)
“Glory to Thee, O Harsomptus, Great God, Lord of Khadi,
Eastern Horus Who rises in Iunet,
Ancient Power emerged from Nun, the Father of the Gods born from Himself,
Divine Falcon Who rules this Land, Whose appearance is perfect and beautiful thanks to the feathers and to the Solar disk,
Absolute Master Whose might is great,
He Who strikes His enemies in the day of the fight in the arena,
He Who protects the Sanctuaries,
He Who protects Their Divine Images as the One of Behdet (Horus) many-colored of plumage,
the Agathodaemon for the Ancestors,
the Master of the Sacred Places,
all the Divine Powers arise when He speaks,
the Creator Who creates what exists,
the Ancient One,
He Who rejuvenates in the everlastingness.
The Son of Ra, the Lord of Crowns, Horus the King, the Beloved of Harsomptus, the Great God Lord of Khadi.”
the Monumental Gate of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), detail of the lintel (looking towards the Temple of Hathor), west side:
the two sons of Hathor and Horus: Ihy (to the left, wearing the Triple Atef-Crown, the “Roaring One”) and Harsomtous (wearing the Solar Crown)
Ihy, the “Sistrum Player”, the “Musician”, the “Calf”, and Harsomptus, “Horus the Uniter”, are the divine sons of Horus and of the Goddess Hathor. The main cult centres of Ihy and Harsomptus are the Temple of Hathor at Iunet-Dendera, and the Temple of Horus at Behdet-Apollinopolis Megale.
– IHY –
“Ihy the Great, son of Hathor,
the noble child of the Eye of Ra (Hathor),
the beautiful lotus of the Golden One (Hathor),
the living image of Atum,
the son of He of the Horizon.
We are happy to see Him, He Whose face and love are sweet”
(inscription from the Temple of Hathor at Iunet,
cfr. Dendera III-90)
detail from the first column (upper part, south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:
the Goddess Hathor playing the tambourine before the Child God Ihy; Ihy is represented standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands of Egypt (papyrus and lotus), wearing the Double feathered Crown, and playing the Menat-necklace with His left hand and the sistrum with His right
detail from the first column (lower part, south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:
the Child God Ihy seated upon the lotus flower which rose from Nun, the Primaeval Ocean, and wearing the Heqa-scepter and the Nekhakha-Flail.
At left, the Goddess Uadjet in Her form of Uraeus, wearing the Red Crown, and at right the Goddess Nekhbet in Her form of vulture, wearing the White Crown, both standing on the symbol for “gold”; papyrus flowers are represented below Uadjet, and lotus flowers below Nekhbet
Ihy in His aspect of youthful God wearing the Double feathered Crown and holding the scepter and the flail;
detail from the first intercolumnar wall (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet
the first intercolumnar wall (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet:
-the King (the Emperor Traianus) making adorations and offering a clepsydra to Hathor suckling Ihy; behind Her, Ihy in His aspect of youthful God wearing the Double feathered Crown and holding the scepter and the flail;
at left and at right are represented the Two Goddesses as Uraei entwined around a papyrus (Uadjet, at left, wearing the Red Crown) and a lotus stem (Nekhbet, at right, wearing the White Crown).
-on the lintel is represented the Winged Solar Orb (Horus of Behdet) flanked by the Two Uraei; on the top of it, a row of Uraei wearing the Solar Crown;
– in the lower register, papyrus flowers and Rekhyt-birds (representing the Egyptians, that are the devotees of the Gods of Egypt)
“Ihy the Great, son of Hathor,
King of the Cyclical Eternity,
Ruler of the Infinite Duration,
the Excellent Sovereign without equals,
there is no region that does not know His name”
(inscription from the Temple of Hathor at Iunet,
cfr. Dendera III-117)
the second intercolumnar wall (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet:
-the King (the Emperor Traianus) making adorations and playing the sistra before Hathor suckling Ihy; behind Hathor is represented Ihy in His aspect of youthful God wearing the Double Crown and holding the Ankh in His right;
at left and at right are represented the Two Goddesses as Uraei entwined around a papyrus (Uadjet, at left, wearing the Red Crown) and a lotus stem (Nekhbet, at right, wearing the White Crown).
-on the lintel is represented the Winged Solar Orb (Horus of Behdet) flanked by the Two Uraei; on the top of it, a row of Uraei wearing the Solar Crown;
– in the lower register, papyrus flowers and Rekhyt-birds
Ihy in His aspect of youthful God wearing the Double Crown and holding the Ankh (the symbol of Life);
detail from the second intercolumnar wall (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet
“O You . . . . , the Entourage which is about Ra,
see, I go down . . . . ,
I am that First Seed of Ra, He begot me in the womb of my mother Isis . . . . , powerful in the Sky, mighty on Earth,
such is my condition before my father Ra and my mother . . . . ,
I will be in this land in company with the living,
I desire my name to be on their lips as Ihy the sistrum-player, son of Hathor.
They have worshipped me, and I am brotherly . . . . , the love of me every day.
I am the Lord of bread, one in charge of beer,
and I hear . . . . .”
(from the CCCXXXIV spell of the Coffin Texts)
the third intercolumnar wall (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet:
-the King (the Emperor Traianus) making adorations and offering the henu-boat of Sokar to Hathor suckling Ihy; behind Hathor is represented Ihy in His aspect of youthful God;
at left and at right are represented the Two Goddesses as Uraei entwined around a papyrus (Uadjet, at left, wearing the Red Crown) and a lotus stem (Nekhbet, at right, wearing the White Crown).
-on the lintel is represented the Winged Solar Orb (Horus of Behdet) flanked by the Two Uraei; on the top of it, a row of Uraei wearing the Solar Crown;
– in the lower register, papyrus flowers and Rekhyt-birds
the fourth intercolumnar wall (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet:
-the King (the Emperor Traianus, wearing the Double Feathered Crown with ram’s horns, the solar disk, and the Two Uraei) making adorations and offering a necklace (decorated with Hathor-heads) to Hathor suckling Ihy; behind Hathor is represented Ihy in His aspect of youthful God;
-at left and at right are represented the Two Goddesses as Uraei entwined around a papyrus (Uadjet, at left, wearing the Red Crown) and a lotus stem (Nekhbet, at right, wearing the White Crown).
-on the lintel is represented the Winged Solar Orb (Horus of Behdet) flanked by the Two Uraei; on the top of it, a row of Uraei wearing the Solar Crown;
– in the lower register, papyrus flowers and Rekhyt-birds
detail from the third column (upper part, south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet:
-the Goddess Hathor playing the tambourine before the Child God Ihy; Ihy is represented standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands (papyrus and lotus entwined), and wearing a composite Triple Atef Crown;
-the scene is flanked by two rows of Uraei wearing the Solar Crown, and by the Two Goddesses as Uraei: at left, Nekhbet entwined around a grand lotus flower and wearing the White Crown, and at right, Uadjet entwined around a grand papyrus flower and wearing the Red Crown;
-in the upper register of the column, Hathor’ heads standing on the symbol for “Gold”, and flanked by two Uraei.
detail of a column (upper part) from the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet/Dendera:
-in the upper register, Hathor’ heads standing on the “Gold”-hieroglyphs, and flanked by two Uraei on Shen-rings;
-in front, the Goddess Hathor playing the tambourine before the Child God Ihy; Ihy is represented standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands of Egypt (papyrus and lotus entwined), crowned with the Pschent (the Double Crown), and playing the Menat-necklace with His left hand and the sistrum with His right;
-in the lower register, a crowned cartouche standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands of Egypt (papyrus and lotus entwined) and flanked by Hathot (at left) and Horus (at right) and by a double representation of Meret, the Goddess of Rejoicing]
detail of the Monumental Gate of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), west jamb (looking towards the Temple of Hathor), fourth register:
the King (wearing the Double Crown with ram’s horns and Uraei) offering a necklace to Hathor (the image of Hathor has been impiously destroyed by the christians…); in front of Hathor there is a small image of Ihy standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands (at left, a papyrus stalk, and at right, a lotus stem) and playing the sistrum and the menat-necklace before the King
detail of the Monumental Gate of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), west jamb (looking towards the Temple of Hathor), second register:
the King (the Emperor Trajan) playing the sistra before Hathor and Ihy; in front of Hathor there is a small image of Harsomptus standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands (at left, a papyrus stalk, and at right, a lotus stem) and playing the sistrum and the menat-necklace before the King.
– HARSOMTOU (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy) –
“House of Birth” of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), detail from the south outer face:
composite floral capitals with Bes holding lotus and papyrus flowers;
on the frieze is represented Harsomptus (son of Hathor and Horus) seated upon a grand Lotus Flower, flanked by Shepet-Reret (at left) and Bes-Hatiti (at right) both making adorations to Him; at left and at right, a double representation of Horus of Behdet in His form of sacred falcon.
the Monumental Gate of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), detail of the lintel (looking towards the Temple of Hathor):
the Hathor-head flanked by two images of Harsomtous (to the right in His serpent-headed form)
“Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’),
the Great God Who resides in Iunet-Dendera,
Ra Himself in the ‘Place of Ra’,
the Great Serpent arisen from the lotus,
the Power of the Powers,
the Master of the sacred places,
the Good Serpent in the sanctuaries,
Site (s3-t3, the “son of the earth”) Who makes the infinite duration and creates the cyclical eternity”
(from the the Chapel of Harsomtou in the Temple of Hathor at Iunet, cfr. Dendera II-164)
Harsomtous enthroned, serpent-headed, wearing the Solar Crown with the Two Feathers;
detail from the lintel of the Monumental Gate of the Sanctuary of Hathor at Iunet/Dendera (looking towards the Temple of Hathor)
– HYMN TO HARSOMPTUS –
from the the Chapel of Harsomptus in the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (cfr. Dendera II-166)
“Glory to You, O Harsomptus, Great God, Lord of Khadi,
Eastern Horus Who rises in Iunet,
Noble Power emerged from Nun, the Father of the Gods born from Himself,
Khepry . . . . manifestations, He Who fills the land with golden dust,
the King of the South and King of the North,
the impetuous Ba-soul,
the Lord on the royal palanquin,
the Beautiful Child . . . . in the sky,
the human beings live thanks to His benefactions,
the Divine Falcon Who rules this land, Whose appearance is perfect and beautiful thanks to the feathers and to the Solar disk,
the Lord of Eternity Who lives by Maat (Righteousnes and Truth), Whose advices are excellent in the Temple of the Noble One (Hathor),
He Who protects . . . . (the Sanctuaries) in . . . . ,
He Who overthrows the enemies of the Prince of the White Crown (Osiris),
the Excellent Lord, the multitude rejoices thanks to Him, the Perfect Hero of the Great Divine Ennead,
the Absolute Master Whose might is great, He Who strikes His enemies in the day of the fight in the arena,
He is the air for those whose throat is closed,
He Who protects . . . . ,
. . . . sacred . . . . , He Who shines in Iunet (Dendera), everyday,
He Who protects the Sanctuaries, He Who protects Their Divine Images as the One of Behdet (Horus), many-colored of plumage,
the Agathodaemon for the Ancestors, the Master of the Sacred Places, all the Divine Powers arise when He speaks,
the Creator Who creates what exists, the Ancient One, He Who rejuvenates in the everlastingness.
The Son of Ra, the Lord of Crowns, Horus the King, the Beloved of Harsomptus, the Great God Lord of Khadi.”
Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’) Lord of Khadi (on the east bank of Iunet-Dendera), wearing the Solar Crown with the Uraeus, holding the ‘Ankh’ (Life) and the ‘Uas’-scepter of Power and Dominion;
detail from the exterior wall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera)
detail from the rear wall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera), east side, lower register:
Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’) Lord of Khadi (on the east bank of Iunet-Dendera), wearing the Solar Crown with the Uraeus, holding the ‘Ankh’ (Life) and the ‘Uas’-scepter of Power and Dominion
the King offering the branches of the divine necropolis to Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’) Lord of Khadi (on the east bank of Dendera).
Scene from the chapel of Harsomtou in the Temple of Hathor at Nitentòre (“Jwnt-t3-Nṯrt”, Dendera).
Drawing from “Dendérah: description générale du grand temple de cette ville” by A. Mariette, II-47
the King offering a lotus flower to Harsomtou Lord of Khadi (on the east bank of Dendera).
Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’) is represented falcon-headed, wearing the Solar Crown with the two feathers.
Scene from the chapel of Harsomtou in the Temple of Hathor at Nitentòre (“Jwnt-t3-Nṯrt”, Dendera).
Drawing from “Dendérah: description générale du grand temple de cette ville” by A. Mariette, II-47
detail from the second column (upper part, south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:
the Goddess Hathor playing the tambourine before the Child God Harsomptus (Horus the Unifier, son of Hathor and Horus); Harsomptus is represented standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands (papyrus and lotus entwined), wearing the Triple Atef (the “Hemhemet Crown”, the “Roaring One”), and playing the Menat-necklace with His left hand and the Sistrum with His right;
the scene is flanked by two rows of Uraei wearing the Solar Crown, and by the Two Goddesses as Uraei: at left, Nekhbet entwined around a grand lotus flower and wearing the White Crown, and at right, Uadjet entwined around a grand papyrus flower and wearing the Red Crown
detail from the third column (south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:
a crowned cartouche standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands of Egypt (papyrus and lotus entwined), flanked by Harsomptus (at left, wearing the Double Feathered Crown) and Horus (at right, wearing the Double Crown) both falcon-headed and holding the Uas-scepter of Power and Dominion. At left and at right, the Two Meret-Goddesses of Upper (at right) and Lower (at left) Egypt making adorations
the Goddess Hathor playing the tambourine before the Child God Harsomptus (Horus the Unifier, son of Hathor and Horus); Harsomptus is represented standing on the symbol of the Union of the Two Lands (papyrus and lotus entwined), wearing the Triple Atef (the “Hemhemet Crown”, the “Roaring One”), and playing the Menat-necklace with His left hand and the Sistrum with His right;
the scene is flanked by two rows of Uraei (fire-breathing cobras) wearing the Solar Crown, and by the Two Goddesses in Their form of Uraei: at left, the Goddess Nekhbet standing on a grand lotus flower and wearing the White Crown; at right, the Goddess Uadjet standing upon a huge papyrus flower and wearing the Red Crown; detail of a column (upper part) from the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet.
detail from the fourth column (lower part, south outer face) of the “House of Birth” of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:
the Child God Harsomptus seated upon a lotus flower, wearing the Heqa-scepter and the Nekhakha-Flail.
At left, the Goddess Uadjet in Her form of Uraeus, wearing the Red Crown, and at right the Goddess Nekhbet in Her form of vulture, wearing the White Crown, both standing on the symbol for “gold”; papyrus flowers are represented below Uadjet, and lotus flowers below Nekhbet
rear wall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet, first register (detail of the west side):
Harsomtous in His form of youthful God, wearing the Triple Atef-Crown with four Uraei, holding the Ankh with the left and playing the sistrum with the right. In front of Him are represented offerings and sacred objects (including the Crowns, next to Him)
scene from the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:
the King (wearing the White Crown) bringing offerings to Harsomtous. Harsomtous is represented in His form of youthful God, wearing the Triple Atef-Crown and playing the sistrum and the menat-necklace before the King.
In the lower register, grand lotus flowers
scene from the exterior wall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera):
the King (to the left) making adorations to Harsomtous (wearing the Double Crown); above the King is represented Outo/”Uadjet” in Her form of serpent-headed vulture spreading Her wings as a sign of protection and holding the Ankh (the symbol of Life)
the King (wearing the Double Crown with ram’s horns) offering a jug with purifying water to Isis and Harsomtou Lord of Khadi (on the east bank of Iunet-Dendera).
Harsomtou (Ḥr-sm3-t3wy, ‘Horus the Unifier of the Two Lands’) is represented falcon-headed, wearing the Solar Crown with the two feathers.
Scene from the Chapel of Sokar-Osiris in the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera)
detail from the rear wall (first register, west side) of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet (Dendera):
(from left to right) Harsomtous (falcon-headed, wearing the Solar Crown with the two feathers), Osiris Onnophris (wearing the Atef-Crown with ram’s horns), and Horus of Behdet (wearing the Double Crown), each holding the Uas-scepter of Power and Dominion.
– PANEBTAWY –
detail from the “Monumental Gate of of King Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos”, from the Double Temple of Haroeris (Horus the Ancient) and Sobek at Ombos: the King offering food to Haroeris (Horus the Ancient) and Panebtauy (“the Lord of the Two Lands”, son of Haroeris and Tasenetneferet, “the good and beautiful sister”, a form of Hathor, and wife of Haroeris); Haroeris wears the Atef-Crown, and Panebtauy the Hemhemet Crown (the “Roaring One”, the Triple Atef); both the Gods hold the Uas-scepter of Power and Dominion in the left and the Ankh (the symbol of Life) in the right.
Panebtauy, the Divine son of Haroeris (Ḥr-wr, Horus the Ancient) and Tasenetneferet;
detail from the Western Colonnade of the Temple of Isis at Philae.
the King offering food to Panebtauy, son of Tasenetneferet and Haroeris;
scene from the Double Temple of Haroeris and Sobek at Ombos
the King making adorations and offerings to Sobek and Panebtauy;
scene from the Double Temple of Haroeris and Sobek at Ombos
AMNTE NOFRE (Amentet Neferet) 