Egyptian Gods

Hatmehyt was an Egyptian Goddess of Fish, originally a deification of the Nile River. Hatmehyt worshipped mainly by the people in the Delta, particularly in the northeast at Mendes. The name Hatmehyt also spelled as Hatmehit, whose name means or translated as “she who is in front of the fishes” or “foremost of the fish”. She was also known as a goddess of life and protection.

Hatmehyt was the consort of the ram god Banedgjedet (literally meaning Ba of the lord of the djed, referring to Osiris), who later took over her position as the main deity of Mendes and Hatmehyt was worshipped in the female form of Banebdjedet.

As wife of Banedgjedet (Osiris) she was eventually became associated with Isis and she was also considered the mother of Horus (a form known as Harpocrates). These three deities formed the “Mendesian Triad”.

Her appearances portrayed as woman with a fish emblem or crown on her head. Sometimes, she depicted as the fish itself, which led to suggestions that it was a dolphin. However, later it was discarded with the lepidotus fish, which is common in the Nile. Hatmehhyt was also known as the “Chief of Fish”.