Egyptian Gods

Bat was an ancient cow goddess, who originally worshipped in Seshesh, the 7th Nome of Upper Egypt. The name Bat also known as Bata. The word “ba” is the spiritual element that Egyptians considered as one of the major parts of the soul.

As referred to the Pyramid Text, Bat also known as the “Ba of two faces” that represent her ability to see the past and into the future. However, this two faces also can represent the two banks of the Nile or both Upper and Lower Egypt. Bat also given other titles such as “She Who Lows” and “Great Wild Cow”.

Bat rarely depicted in sculpture or painting of Egyptian artwork, however very often she can be seen in amulets. Usually, she was shown as a human face with bovine ears and curled horns. Her body is in the shape of a necklace counterpoise. She most likely, the cow goddess seen at the top of the Narmer Palette with cow’s horns and two faces, which celebrated the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

She was highly associated with the ankh, a symbol was associated with ba, as it represented life and with the sistrum, a musical instrument whose shape is very similar to that of the ankh. Consequently, she also became strongly associated with Hathor.

Bat was worshipped for centuries in the 7th Nome and Hathor was worshipped in the 6th Nome of Upper Egypt. It is possible that Bat and Hathor were once the same goddess.