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Plaque with Hathor Sistrum and Blessing to Bastet

New Kingdom
ca. 1550–1300 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130
One side of this small plaque shows a Hathor sistrum, a rattle-like instrument of which the handle often represented the head of the goddess Hathor, often depicted with a female face with cow’s ears. The sistrum is closely associated with Hathor as a reference to her aspect as a goddess of music and joy. Large horns curl inward on either side of the sistrum and a pair of aroused cobras is attached to the handle.

The plaque’s obverse side shows a seated cat, embodying the goddess Bastet. She faces the hieroglyph for good and beautiful and the sign for gold. These form divine epithets calling upon Bastet as ‘the Beautiful One, the Golden One’.

The combination of imagery referring to Hathor and Bastet on one amulet reflects the close relation between the two goddesses. They are both mother goddesses and closely connected to the sun god as daughters and Eye of Re.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Plaque with Hathor Sistrum and Blessing to Bastet
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Date: ca. 1550–1300 BCE
  • Geography: From Egypt
  • Medium: Faience
  • Dimensions: L. 1 × W. 0.6 cm (3/8 × 1/4 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.130.850
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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