Egyptian Gods

Anat was a Goddess of Fertility, Sexual Love, Hunting and War of Canaanite. She was introduced in Egypt during the end of Middle Kingdom and became popular during Hyksos period. She was known as the “Mother of God” and “Mistress of the Sky”. The name Anat also spelled as Anant, Anit, Anti, Anthat and Antit.

Anat was the daughter of Ra and the sister and wife of Set, who was associated with Baal along with her sister Ashtart. As a goddess of war, she often paired with the goddess Ashtart. According to myth, in the contest between Horus and Set, Anat and Astarte appear as daughters of Ra and given in marriage to the god Set (who was associated with Baal).

The Phoenecians generally, she was portrayed as a naked woman exaggerated sexual organs bearing a bow and arrow. Sometimes, she depicted with a spear and shield or a spear and a spindle. In Egypt, she was depicted as a woman wearing the White crown flanked with plumes and she holds scepter and ankh in hand. As a war deity, she generally seated on a throne and bore a lance, a battle axe, and a shield.

In the New Kingdom, Ramesses II take Anat as his personal guardian in the battle. He also named his dog “Anat-in-vigor”. He had a daughter, who later became his wife called “Bint-Anat” (“Daughter of Anat”).

She was also known as “the Virgin”, “the Wanton”, “the Lady”, “the Destroyer”, “Strength of Life” and “the Lady of the Mountain”. Some of the titles given to her are such as “Anat-her” (“Agreeable Anat”), “Herit-Anta” (“error of Anat”) and “Beth-El” (“House of God”).

Anat was worshipped in Memphis with other deities and she had temples in the Hyksos capital of Avaris and in Beth-Shan (Palestine).