Tempelcomplex van Dendera 1879

This photograph by Maison Bonfils captures the Temple complex of Dendera. Note the Hathor-headed columns. Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of music, love, and motherhood, is characterized here by bovine features: cow ears and a serene expression of feminine strength. I’m reminded of similar columns in other temples across the Nile, revealing a continuity of reverence. Hathor's image carries the weight of a collective cultural memory. Consider the classical caryatids—sculpted female figures that support structures—or even the medieval depictions of the Virgin Mary, often associated with similar virtues of love and protection. These motifs seem to be endlessly recycled, attesting to the subconscious, timeless need to seek nurturing and protective forces. This visual language has been passed down through history, evolving yet retaining its emotional core, and engaging us on a primal level. The sacred feminine resurfaces again and again, transformed, yet echoing through the corridors of time.