Figure of Taweret

This small wooden statuette represents Taweret, whose name means “the Great One,” a powerful household deity revered for her protection of women and children. Her composite form (hippopotamus body, crocodile back and tail, and leonine limbs) draws upon some of the most formidable creatures of the Nile, each known for its fierce defence of its young. In this, Taweret embodies not chaos, but controlled ferocity, harnessed in the service of protection.

Unlike the great state gods, Taweret belonged to the intimate sphere of daily life. She had no grand temples; instead, her presence was felt within the home. Statuettes such as this were placed in living spaces, particularly in areas associated with childbirth and early infancy, where danger was believed to be ever-present.

In Ancient Egyptian thought, birth was a moment of profound vulnerability, poised between life and death. Both mother and child were at risk from unseen forces, and it was here that Taweret’s role was most vital. She stood as a guardian at this threshold, warding off malevolent spirits, easing labour, and safeguarding the newborn in its earliest, most fragile days. Amulets bearing her likeness were also worn upon the body, ensuring her protection extended beyond the birthing chamber.

The dedication of this figure by the draftsman Parahotep reflects the deeply personal devotion afforded to such deities. In a community like Deir el-Medina (home to the artisans who crafted the royal tombs) Taweret’s protection would have been sought not only in moments of birth, but as an enduring presence within the rhythms of family life.

Though modest in scale, this figure speaks to one of the most universal of human concerns; the safe arrival of new life, and the hope that it might endure.