Columnist Compares Marlo Thomas to Ancient Egyptian Goddess Hathor

Abu Simbel, Egypt — A New York Post opinion column published Oct. 28 argues that actress Marlo Thomas bears a resemblance to carvings of the ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor at the Abu Simbel temple complex, according to columnist Cindy Adams. The column, "Even the ancient Egyptians knew Marlo Thomas is a timeless beauty," frames the comparison as an explanation of what Adams calls "the Marlo Pillars."

What did Cindy Adams write about Marlo Thomas and the pillars?

Adams describes the carved face inside the temple's interior hypostyle hall as matching Thomas's features. The column identifies the figure as Hathor, a deity it says represents "love, joy and beauty," and ties that imagery directly to the actress.

What are the Hathoric pillars at Abu Simbel?

According to the column, the rock-cut carvings sit inside a temple complex in the village of Abu Simbel, in Upper Egypt near the border with Sudan and close to Lake Nasser, a stretch south of Cairo. Adams's column states the site was built around 1250 B.C. under King Ramses II and describes it as a solar wonder, noting that sunlight aligns with the interior carvings twice a year, a feature the column says has drawn worship at the location for roughly 3,000 years.

Who is Marlo Thomas?

Thomas starred as Ann Marie on the 1960s sitcom "That Girl," the column notes. She is the daughter of entertainer Danny Thomas and was married to television host Phil Donahue, who died before the column's publication. Adams writes that Thomas has won four Emmy Awards, a Grammy and a Golden Globe over her career. The column puts her current age at 88.

What is Marlo Thomas's connection to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital?

Thomas continues philanthropic work for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the institution her father founded, according to the column. Adams writes the hospital's facility is in Tennessee, with offices maintained in New York.

Where does the comparison come from?

The resemblance described in the column is presented as Adams's own observation rather than a claim sourced to archaeologists or Egyptologists. No academic or government body is cited in the piece linking the Abu Simbel carvings to Thomas specifically; the comparison originates with the columnist's description of the site's Hathor imagery alongside her account of Thomas's career and philanthropy.

The column appears in the Post's Page Six opinion section, a feature historically built around items involving entertainment figures, their appearances and their public work. Readers seeking the underlying historical detail on Abu Simbel's construction date, solar alignment and geographic setting can consult the original column, which is the sole account reviewed for this report.