Taweret Amulet

Light green glazed faience amulet of the goddess Taweret with suspension loop at the back. Worshipped in every home, Taweret, “The Great One” protected women and children during childbirth. Births usually took place inside the home, so Taweret was seen as a household god and there were no temples dedicated to her. Taweret is usually shown as a standing pregnant hippopotamus, with lion’s legs and a crocodile’s tail down her back. The hippopotamus has the biggest mouth of any land animal. Using its long sharp teeth, it can bite and crush anything that gets close to its young. The Egyptians thought the hippopotamus was like Taweret the protector goddess of children.