Hatmehit
|
|
In Egyptian mythology, Hatmehit, or Hatmehyt was a fish-goddess, originally a deification of the Nile, by the people in the area around Mendes. Her name translates as House of Mehit, implying she may some connection to Mehturt (that also went under the name Mehet), possibly due to being seen as a remnant of the primal waters of creation. In art she was depicted either as a fish, or with a fish on her head.
When the cult of Osiris arose, the people of Mendes reacted by identifying Osiris as having achieved his authority by being the husband of Hatmehit. In particular, it was the ba of Osiris, known as Banebjed, that was said to have married Hatmehit. When Horus became considered the son of Osiris, a form known as Harpocrates (Har-pa-khered in Egyptian), Hatmehit was consequently said to be his mother. As wife of Osiris, and mother of Horus, she eventually became identified as a form of Isis.