![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/66eb34be95f341eca4a09ece87a861ee.png/v1/fill/w_107,h_107,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/66eb34be95f341eca4a09ece87a861ee.png)
MONSTERS
OF ANCIENT EGYPT
TAWERET
Taweret was an ancient Egyptian patron of childbirth and a protector of women and children, often called the “Egyptian Childbirth Goddess” with her name literally translating to “The Great One”. According to the Book of the Dead, Taweret nourishes the dead and engulfs the evil who are on their way to Hell. She was said to guard the roadway to “The Mountains of the West” where she would use her power to help the deceased arrive safely (Wengrow 113). Taweret was identified as a hippopotamus primarily, but she also shares the characteristics of the lion and crocodile which were all feared by the Egyptians but also highly respected. She is often depicted in early Egyptian art wearing a short cylindrical headdresses with two plumes or the horns and solar disk of Hathor, with the “Sa”, which represents protection, or the ankh, which represents life (Pinch 29). Taweret was responsible specifically for the protection of mothers and children, with her protective powers used mostly during childbirth. Her predatory features were thought to cause fear in evil forces and ward them off (Germond 172).
At first, Taweret was looked upon by Ancient Egyptians as a dangerously powerful and malicious authority. Taweret was linked to the northern sky as Nebetakhet, the "Mistress of the Horizon". She represented the stars of Ursa Minor and Draco, in which the little dipper formed her back, who guarded the northern sky (Wengrow 114). The northern sky was thought to be cold, dark and potentially dangerous and was associated with Apep, the ancient Egyptian spirit of evil, darkness and destruction who threatened to destroy the sun god Ra as he travelled through the underworld at night (Harrington 34). According to one ancient myth, her husband Apep could only come out during the dark hours, and so Taweret represented the malicious during the light hours. However, by the Old Kingdom she was seen as a protective, rather than aggressive. This connects to her hippopotamus characteristics, as female hippos are seen as very aggressive in defending their offspring. As a result, Taweret remains to be a mother goddess figure as well as a patron of childbirth who was widely considered by most Egyptians as the mother of the pharaoh. As time passed she soon became a commonly known deity (Harrington 36).
Taweret was also very well known for her large swollen breasts. In contrast to her aggressive protective nature, she was also known as a maternal and benevolent figure. Her breasts are often depicted as swollen to symbolize that of a pregnant woman, which displays her dedication to mothering her beloved children. In ancient egyptian culture, large breasts are considered as a symbol of fertility and the power to have regenerative properties (Andrews 221).
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5fc277_98f697003d8042ecb5d2a823418695a8.jpg/v1/fill/w_346,h_434,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/5fc277_98f697003d8042ecb5d2a823418695a8.jpg)
This ancient amulet dating from 664- 332 B.C. depicts the goddess Taweret in glazed ceramic ware called faience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The amulet shows Taweret as a frightening half lion, alligator, and hippopotamus with saggy swollen breasts in order to scare off demons. Here she has the face of an alligator, paws of a lion, body of a hippopotamus, and human breasts. Each of these animals were known to be incredibly fierce to the Egyptians, and translates across many Egyptian Gods and Goddesses. For example, Amit shares the same qualities as Taweret, but does not have the human attribute which could characterize Amit as more of a monster than Taweret. Amulets and small tokens often symbolizing Taweret were very popular in ancient Egypt as they served as good luck charms for women during childbirth, due to the fact that Taweret symbolized protection to mothers and children. These tokens were also used for protection for the dead as they went through rebirth, and were put into tombs or pockets of the deceased. “These objects were endowed with magic powers and that where magic is concerned mystery and obscurity of meaning only add to the occult efficacy desired” (D.D. 122). Figurines and statues were also often placed outside of homes to ward off evil forces on their way to hell, as Taweret was said to engulf them. Taweret first originated in Egyptian culture, but then slowly migrated to other countries like Greece, where she was featured in paintings and wall carvings. This amulet displays the most often seen version of Taweret, with a short headdress and stout body. Compared to other Egyptian goddesses, Taweret could never be classified as symbolizing traditional beauty due to her sagging breasts and plump figure, which could also contribute to her monstrous identity.