The worship of Bat can be traced back to the earliest dynasties of ancient Egypt. By the time of the Old Kingdom, she was revered as a powerful goddess. Her cult continued to flourish throughout the Middle and New Kingdoms.
The Egyptians believed that Bat controlled fertility and childbirth, and was responsible for ensuring bountiful harvests. She was also believed to protect the newly deceased as they made their journey to the afterlife. It was thought that Bat would spread her wings and carry the souls of the departed to their place of rest.
Bat was also associated with the goddess Hathor, who was sometimes depicted as a cow. Both Bat and Hathor were revered for their powers of fertility and childbirth. They were often depicted together, with Bat perched on the back of Hathor.
The cult of Bat was particularly popular in Upper Egypt. The temple of Bat was located in the city of Thebes, where she was worshipped as a protector of the royal family. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt believed that they were the offspring of the gods, and Bat was often invoked to protect them from harm.
The worship of Bat was not limited to Egypt. The goddess was also revered in Nubia, a region located to the south of Egypt. In Nubia, Bat was known as “Bata”, and was associated with the goddesses Isis and Hathor.
In later times, Bat was sometimes merged with other goddesses. She was sometimes conflated with the goddess Mut, who was also associated with fertility and childbirth. In some instances, she was linked with the goddess Sekhmet, who was believed to have the power to destroy her enemies.
Despite the importance of Bat in ancient Egyptian religion, very little is known about her cult. Few artifacts, aside from her effigies, have been found. It is likely that much of the worship of Bat took place in small local shrines, rather than in large temples.
Today, Bat is little known outside of academic circles. However, her image can still be seen in ancient Egyptian art and hieroglyphics. Her depiction as a fierce bat-woman is particularly striking, and has inspired modern artists and writers.
In popular culture, Bat has been featured in several video games, including “Assassin’s Creed Origins” and “Civilization VI”. She has also appeared in several fantasy novels, such as “The Osiris Ritual” by George Mann and “Nefertiti’s Heart” by A.W. Exley.
The worship of Bat may have faded from memory, but her legacy lives on in the art and culture of ancient Egypt. Her image continues to inspire and fascinate people around the world, as they try to uncover the mysteries of this enigmatic goddess of the skies.