Anat

Mythology of Anat

Picture: The royal craftsman Qeh and his family worship the goddess Anat in her typical iconography. Stela of Qeh. Detailed picture below...

This goddess was one of a number of deities introduced into Egypt from the Near East. She was a warrior goddess particularly associated with the region of ancient Ugarit (modern Ras-Shamra) on the Syrian Levant; and although she was given titles such as 'mistress of the sky', and 'mother of the Egyptian gods', Anat's nature was primarily martial. In the West Semitic myths relating to the goddess she ruthlessly sent an eagle to slay a youth named Aquat whose bow she coveted, and when she slew the monster Mot whom she fought, she vengefully hacked and burned his body before grinding his bones and scattering them in the fields. She thus became one of the patron gods of the military exploits of the Ramessid kings. A war hound of Ramesses II was called 'Anat in strength' (one of the daughters of that pharaoh was also called Bint-Anat or 'daughter of Anat') and the goddess was said to personally protect Ramesses III in battle. Anat was often referred to as a virgin, but she had a strong sexual aspect and was said to have united with Reshep and with Baal. In Egypt, Anat was considered to be a daughter of Ra and, like other Near Eastern goddesses, she was sometimes equated with Hathor - especially as the Egyptian deity could herself exhibit a violent aspect to her nature. Her aggression and foreign origin led to Anat being said to be one of the consorts of Seth, while her sexual aspect also led her to be associated with the fertility god Min.

Iconography of Anat

Representations of Anat usually reflect her mythological character, and she was characteristically depicted in the form of a woman holding a shield, spear and bottle axe - often with one arm raised holding one of her weapons in a threatening gesture. She normally wears a long dress and a high crown similar to the White Crown of Upper Egypt but flanked by plumes on either side. Her iconography can sometimes reflect elements of the Egyptian goddess Hathor with whom she was associated.

Worship of Anat

Anat is first attested in Egypt towards the end of the Middle Kingdom, but he seems to have been favored by the Hyksos during their period of rulership in Egypt (one of whose kings took the name Anat-her), and by Ramessid times Anat was established as a fairly important goddess in the Delta region. In the Third Intermediate Period a large precinct was dedicated to the goddess in the temple of Mut at Tanis, and the name Anat-em-heb or 'Anat in her festival' was a theophorous name taken by ancient Egyptians analogues to the older Hor-em-heb or Amen-em-heb 'Horus/Amun in his Festival'. Although the goddess was often associated with Astarte, the cult of Anat was clearly practiced independently.