The Divine Triad of Dendera

The Divine Triad of Dendera

Location:

The divine triad, or family unit, of Dendera, is carved in sunk relief on the south exterior wall of the Temple of Hathor which is situated at the North of Luxor.

Explanation:

From right to left: Ihy is represented as a child in the typical Egyptian way. He is naked and wears the sidelook of hair (barely visible). Appropriate to his role as the Unite of the Two Lands, he wears the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt . In his left hand he carries a sistrum--a rattle-an instrument used to ward off evil spirits. The sistrum was especially associated with his mother Hathor, goddess of love and music. In his right hand, he holds a menat (also associated with Hathor)-a broad collar necklace with counterpoise- which could also serve as a percussion instrument. Hathor is pictured as a woman wearing a crown of cow horns holding a sun disk. Horus, god of the sky, combines the body of a man with the head of falcon. He also wears the Double Crown of Egypt.

Notice the lion's head spout (top left) which helped drain the roof of the temple when it rains.