TAWERET, Ancient Egyptian apotropaic (protective) goddess of fertility, often seen in talismanic form to protect pregnant women and children. Taweret, meaning “the Great One,” is a hybridized anthropomorphic figure: a hippopotamus with large human breasts, a crocodile tail, and lion claws, adorned with a tripartite headpiece and, in some examples, with a sun-disk crown to further signify her divine power. This fearsome combination of animals known for protecting their young is said to ward off demons and malevolent spirits as pregnant women sought to protect themselves and their newborn children. At the same time, Taweret’s fierce appearance was tempered by the sumptuousness of her curves, such as her swollen stomach and large, soft breasts. Representations of Taweret originate mostly from the New Kingdom (c. 1550–1069 BCE), and the greatest number of amulets bearing her likeness come from this era.
Taweret appears famously in one mythological account that describes her as the harbinger of the Nile’s annual flood for crops and prosperity, further signifying her symbolic association with fertility. One of the most striking representations of Taweret, from Thebes during the 25th Dynasty (c. 747–656 BC) is housed in the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum.