Hathor

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Hathor
From left, the Osirian gods Khepri, Sobek, and Hathor.
(Deity)

Titles
Mistress of Jubilation
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Dance, joy, love, music, the sky
Worshipers
Mothers, wives, lovers, performers, and miners
Edicts
Give wealth to new families, aid traders, miners, and musicians, protect and encourage lovers
Anathema
Discriminate based on appearance, intentionally cause disfigurement, refuse food to the starving
Cleric Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Air, Chaos, Charm, Good, Travel
Subdomains (1E)
Azata, Cloud, Exploration, Love, Revelry, Trade
Cleric Alignments (2E)
Domains (2E)
Family, passion, sun, wealth
Favored Weapon
Short sword
Symbol
Solar disk with horns
Sacred Animal
Source: Empty Graves, pg(s). 68 (1E)
Gods & Magic, pg(s). 124–125 (2E)

Hathor is a cow-headed deity and a member of the pantheon often worshiped in Ancient Osirion. Known as the Mistress of Jubilation, Hathor's portfolio includes dance, joy, love, music, trade, and the sky.1

Dogma

Hathor teaches her faithful to support new families, to encourage and support musicians, to protect miners and traders, and to support love. She strongly opposes discrimination based on outward appearances, along with any attempt to disfigure another person or creature, and believes that refusing nourishment to those who hunger is a sin.2

History

Since the Age of Destiny, the people of Osirion have worshiped their own local gods, including Bes, in addition to those deities venerated more commonly throughout the Inner Sea region. Their worship was most popular during the early millennia and waned as the Osirian people gradually turned to foreign deities. During the Age of Enthronement, the Osirian gods, while continuing to guide Osirion from afar, retreated from Golarion and turned their attention towards the distant land of Kemet. When Osirion was under Keleshite rule, the foreign overlords sought to eradicate the faith of the indigenous gods, but they remain a part of the history of Osirion's land and people. Since the restoration of native Osirian rule in 4609 AR,3 interest in these ancient divinities has been rekindled.45

Appearance

Hathor is traditionally depicted as a shapely woman with a cow's head. She carries a sistrum, a form of rattle, in one hand and her father's solar disk between her horns. Occasionally, she is alternatively depicted as a human woman wearing a horned headdress or a large cow.1

Relationships

Hathor is a daughter of Ra and the sibling of Bastet, Maat, and Sekhmet as well as the consort of Horus.1 Below is a diagram of the familial relationships between the gods of the Osirian pantheon.

Worshippers

Hathor has a wide portfolio and subsequently a wide variety of followers. In her role as a patron of women, she receives devotion from mothers, wives, and lovers generally. In her role as a patron of the arts, performers like bards offer her prayers. Finally, in her role as a patron of trading, miners, especially those who search for gems, are members of Hathor's worshippers. Her priests are overwhelmingly women, hosting large revels in temples dedicated to Hathor that can last for many days at a time.1

A Family Tree of the Osirian Pantheon.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Robert G. McCreary. “Gods of Ancient Osirion” in Empty Graves, 68. Paizo Inc., 2014
  2. Paizo Inc., et al. “Appendix” in Gods & Magic, 124–125. Paizo Inc., 2020
  3. Erik Mona, et al. Golden Road” in World Guide, 51. Paizo Inc., 2019
  4. Rob McCreary. (March 13, 2014). The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Osirion, Paizo Blog.
  5. Robert G. McCreary. “Gods of Ancient Osirion” in Empty Graves, 65. Paizo Inc., 2014

External links

  • Hathor (real-world deity) on Wikipedia