Divine Triad of Dender
The Divine Triad of Dendera, which comprises Het-Heru (Hathor) Heru (Horus), and their son Ihy, is a representation of the divine family unity. This triad is intricately carved in sunk relief on the south exterior wall of the Temple of Hathor captures the essence of love, music, and the spirutal beliefs, showcasing these deities in the act of their religious practices.
The Temple of Het-Heru itself is a remarkable structure, with the oldest of structures referred to as the "Mentuhotep II monument" being erected by Mentuhotep II during the Middle Kingdom. While evidence suggests that a temple existed at the site of Dendera originally known as Inuet, as early as the time of Pepi I, the most recent and notable construction phases occurred during the Ptolemaic period. The standing buildings all date to Ptolemaic and Roman times with the exception of the one built by Nectanebo II prior to Egypt's fall to the Greeks. The Dendera temple is a testament to the power and influence of Cleopatra’s family, the Ptolemies during Greek rule.
The temple is renowned for its preservation, providing insight into traditional Pharaonic architecture. In the artistic portrayal of the Divine Triad, Ihy is depicted as a child, embodying the typical Egyptian representation of youth, marked by the sidelock of hair and the wearing of the Double Crown, which signifies his role as the Uniter of the Two Lands. He holds a sistrum in his left hand, an instrument associated with his mother, and a menat in his right, both significant symbols in ancient Egyptian rituals. Het-Heru is illustrated with a crown of cow horns and a sun disk, while Horus is represented with a falcon's head atop a human body, donning the Double Crown of Egypt, symbolizing their divine authority and the while the other depiction shows Ihy donning the Hemhem Crown.
The temple also houses the famed “Zodiac of Dendera”, a celestial map that reflects the cultural exchange, from various civilizations that interacted with Egypt and accumulation of astronomical knowledge over the millennia. The blending of Babylonian and Greek astrological systems with indigenous Nubian and Egyptian cosmology is evident in the inclusion of familiar Babylonian-Greek zodiac signs alongside the distinct Egyptian decans, which were integral to their timekeeping and religious rituals.
The worship of Het-Heru is deeply rooted in the ancient African practice of pastoralism and is a symbol of the "Ankole" breed of cattle which are exclusive to the African continent. They are known for their large, lyre-shaped horns that can grow up to 8 feet long. The Ankole, who's origins lie within the Great Lakes region were thought to be the source of life to these ancient pastoralists which may explain why the word "Ankh" appears in the word "Ankole." Interestingly enough when viewed from the front, the head of the Ankole cow resembles the shape of the Ankh perfectly. Het-Heru was thought to be the "sustainer of life" and was often shown breastfeeding the Pharaoh. She was associated with fertility, love, music, and motherhood. Her worship can be traced back to the earliest periods of Egyptian civilization, with evidence suggesting that she was venerated as a goddess among Nilo-Saharan and Nubian populations long before the absorption of the Delta region into the Pharaonic Kingdom of the south.
Both Het-Heru and Heru have deep connections to the "nHs n pwnt" which translates to “Nehesy of Punt" as shown at Medinet Habu in the inscriptions of the "Festival of Min". Punt, indigenously kown as Pwenet, was located within the greater region of Ta-Netjer, or the “Land of the Gods” which is associated with the lands south of Egypt, also known as the Land of the Horizon Dwellers. While the exact location of Ta-Netjer has long been the subject of debate they have always been associated with the source of the Nile, Lake Tana and Lake Victoria. While Hatshepsut's inscriptions at her Mortuary Temple at Deir El-Bahri claim Het-Heru to be her divine mother, inscriptions from the Stela of Mentuhotep IV reveals Heru’s birthplace to be in the region of Pwenet, or Gods Land.
"It is the sacred region of Gods Land (Punt)
It is my place of distraction
I have made it for myself in order to cleanse my spirit
Along with my mother, Hathor,
The Lady of Punt."
- Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Deir El-Bahri
“O Venerable one, primeval god, first ranking,
foremost of the position in the land of the horizon-dwellers,
the palace of the god is endowed with life,
Sacred Nest of Heru in which this god flourishes,
within the pure place of his heart's content,
set above the deserts, upon the hills of god’s land,
He made it as his monument to his father Min of Coptus, lord of desert lands, ruler of the Bowmen (Nubians), that he may bestow numerous jubilees and live like Ra, forever.”
- Mentuhotep IV Stela
Source: Lichtheim, M. (1973). Ancient Egyptian literature: A book of readings (Vol. 1). The Middle Kingdom. Page 114.
These inscriptions illustrate the interconnectedness of Nile Valley religion and the cultural fusion which existed between these various ancient African populations. The continuity of religion over millennia, the integration of different cultural practices, and the cosmological evolution of astronomical observations from ancient sites such as the Nabta Playa Stone Circle to the crafting of the Zodiac of Dendera, reflects a blend of astronomical and worldly knowledge that was shared throughout the ancient world. The representation of the Divine Triad of Dendera highlights this amalgamation of beliefs and practices underscoring a rich tapestry of religious and cultural fusion that defined ancient Egyptian civilization.
Comments