Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret
Faïence. Late Period (722–322 BCE)
4.5 × 1.6 × 1.8 cm
Egypt
Cat. 542
One of the most popular deities revered by ordinary people was the goddess Taweret, as can be seen by the numerous amulets and statuettes depicting her.
Her bizarre appearance combines various animals that inhabited the Nile valley. The goddess was in fact depicted as a hippopotamus standing with her mouth open, with lion's paws and a crocodile's tail. Her figure, which appears threatening, was considered highly apotropaic, and was able to frighten evil spirits away.
Taweret was also depicted with a prominent belly, a sign of her role as protector of motherhood and of pregnant women.