The Seven Hathors in Transition: Functional and Iconographic Development during the Graeco-Roman Period

This study investigates the evolving roles and iconography of the Seven Hathors, tracing their transformation from Egyptian textual references to their ritualized depictions in temple art during the Graeco-Roman period. Through a multidisciplinary analysis of literary and visual sources, the research documents a shift from invisible fate-declarers and oracular figures to embodied maternal deities and cosmic musicians. In later temple scenes, their portrayal becomes increasingly standardized: crowned women bearing ritual instruments or tenderly nursing divine children. This evolution signifies their expanding role as nurturers, protectors, and harmonizers of cosmic and royal order. A comparative analysis highlights symbolic affinities with the Greek Pleiades, suggesting a possible intercultural dialogue rooted in shared celestial motifs and mythological functions. While the transformation in their functional identity is well-supported, the influence of Greek tradition remains only partially validated, inviting further interdisciplinary research. Ultimately, the Seven Hathors appear as multifaceted figures whose representation reflects both internal religious developments and cross-cultural integration in a dynamic historical context.