Double-sided Hathor Emblem from a Sistrum

This double-sided emblem of the cow-eared, Egyptian goddess Hathor comes from a sistrum or ceremonial rattle. The goddess is frontal, wearing a straight wig, parted in the center, and bound with straight ribbons. Her triangle shaped face is flat with wide-set eyes, broad cheeks, and a flat chin. Her characteristically cow-shaped ears are rendered as flat on either side of the wig. Below her face is a round broad collar with a simple pattern of tube and drop beads. On each of her shoulder sits a uraeus, the upright rearing cobra, holding a sun-disk on its head. A molded cornice above the goddess’ head holds the lower part of the architectural frame of the naos, or temple, within which sits a uraeus. The main part of the naos, which would have extended upwards to form the remainder of the structure, is now lost. The emblem would have been attached to a handle, also lost, that may have included inscriptions to a pharaoh.