History

A long time ago, a group of Minotaurs splintered from their clans and journeyed into underground caves in the desert. They grew smaller in size to adapt to their new cavernous environment, dedicating their life to vibrant positive energy, and the cult of the cow goddess Hathor. Often mistaken for undersized juvenile Minotaurs, the Brakhotaurs (also known as Hesat) are in fact less vicious and savage than their bigger cousins. Thanks to their new cult, the Brakhotaurs tend toward neutrality to goodness. They are short, barrel-chested humanoids with heads resembling those of bulls. Their horns range in size from about half a foot long to great, curling weapons easily six times that length. They often ornament their horns with metal rings or sheathe them in metal to protect them from damage.  

Household and Womanhood

Levels of reverence and even religious traditions varied greatly among different Brakhotaur communities. However, one thing they all shared was their upmost respect for women, especially mothers. Brakhotaur women did enjoy an unusual degree of freedom for their day, at least compared to their cousin Minotaurs. They could own property, request a divorce and reclaim their dowries if their marriages ended. Women tended to marry between the ages of 12 and 15, and families negotiated to arrange those marriages, but the woman usually had a say in the arrangement. If a woman wanted a divorce, she had to call a priestess and four witnesses to her home and marriage bed. She would then declare in front of them that she had divorced her husband. The marriage contract usually stated how family property would be divided up in case of a divorce. Though the man was the “ruler” of the house, the woman played an active role in managing her husband, as well as the household. Brakhotaur women had full authority in the domestic sphere, especially when their husbands were absent. If the man of the household died, his wife would adopt his role on a permanent basis, singlehandedly running the family farm or trading business. Many women were buried with rings of keys and diverse jewelries, incenses, and perfumes, which symbolized their roles and power as household managers. Some women rose to a particularly high status. One of the grandest burials one could found in Dendera was that of Meryet-Nit who was buried in a sumptuously decorated sarcophagus along with many valuable grave goods. Over her tomb was built a beautiful (but small) pyramid covered in shiny white limestone. However, after becoming a priestess, a woman was seen not only as an important figure, but also a living symbol of divinity.  

Priestesses of Hathor

The first woman to be mentioned as a priestess of Hathor is Neferhetepes. She was the daughter of Pharaoh Radjedef. The latter's father was the leader of the Minotaurs who left their clans for a better world. Legends say a beautiful white cow appeared to Radjedef, instructing him of taking those in need and bring them to a land where they could be free; a land filled with fresh milk and honey. Since then, the cult of the Nurturing Mother had became an integral part of the Brakhotaur society. The Priestesses of Hathor were revered and respected by all in the underground cities. They were called Badak-Purohit or the "Consorts of the Gods in their mother tongue. They worked at the temples, conducting the daily rituals of clothing, feeding and putting to bed the sculpted images that represented the the deities to whom the temples were dedicated. The innermost sanctuary of the temple was regarded as the bedroom of the god or goddess, where his or her domestic needs were taken care of. In mortuary temples, priestesses conducted similar ceremonies to nourish the ka (soul-spirit) of a deceased pharaoh or noble. The higher-ranking priestesses were called the first servants of the god. Lower-ranking ones performed various duties, such as studying and writing hieroglyph texts, teaching new recruits and performing many of the routine duties associated with the temple. Sacred music and dancing were an important part of the sacred rites. Many high-status women held the position of "chantress" to the goddess Hathor who was also known as The Dancer of Fortune.