TAWERET

Taweret (Ancient Egyptian: Tꜣ-wrt) is the highly revered household goddess of pregnancy and childbirth. Her name translates simply to "The Great One," a testament to the immense respect (and fear) accorded to the hippopotamus in ancient times.

Ancient Egyptian Name	𓏏𓄿𓅨𓂋𓏏 (Tꜣ-wrt)
Phonetic Pronunciation	Tah-wer-et
Literal Meaning	“The Great Female”
Primary Role	Childbirth, Fertility, Household Defense

Taweret guarded the most dangerous threshold in an ancient Egyptian's life: the moment of birth. She combined the ferocity of a mother hippo protecting her young with the nurturing care of a midwife. Her image was invoked to scare away demons (like snakes and scorpions) that might harm a pregnant woman or newborn.

Taweret's appearance is unique and intentionally terrifying to evil spirits. She is a composite deity featuring:

• Head & Body: A pregnant hippopotamus standing upright.
• Limbs: The paws of a lion.
• Back & Tail: The ridge and tail of a crocodile.
• Symbols: She often leans on the Sa symbol (protection) or holds an Ankh (life) and a torch to ward off darkness.

Taweret is almost always paired with Bes, the dwarf god of the household. Together, they formed the ultimate defense team for the family. While Bes danced and made noise to drive away evil, Taweret stood as an immovable fortress of magical protection. Their images are frequently found together on headrests, cosmetic jars, and beds.

Surprisingly, Taweret had a significant celestial role. She was identified with the constellation we know as Draco (or parts of Ursa Major). In astronomical ceilings (like at Dendera), she is depicted carrying a crocodile on her back and holding a mooring post. Her job was to keep the dangerous "Foreleg of the Bull" (representing Seth) tethered in the northern sky, preventing chaos from descending to earth.

Unlike state gods who lived in massive stone temples, Taweret lived in the homes of the people. Tiny faience amulets of Taweret are among the most common artifacts found in Egypt. They were worn by mothers and children on necklaces to ensure health and safety. "Feeding cups" shaped like Taweret were used to give milk to infants, imbuing the liquid with her protective power.

Taweret had few large temples (though she was worshipped at Karnak as Ipet). Her cult was primarily domestic. Small shrines in the corners of houses featured her statue, where families would leave offerings of flowers, incense, and food. She represented the personal, intimate connection Egyptians felt with the divine in their daily struggles.

Taweret symbolizes the concept that Love requires Strength. Her fearsome appearance teaches that maternal love is not just gentle; it is fierce and dangerous to anyone who threatens the child. She turns the terrifying power of the hippo—usually an animal to be feared—into a source of safety for the innocent.

Primary Role	Goddess of Childbirth & Home
Appearance	Pregnant Hippo/Lion/Croc hybrid
Divine Partner	Bes
Celestial Form	Constellation of the Hippo (Draco)
Key Object	The Sa Symbol (Protection)