Taweret is the goddess who protected pregnant women in ancient Egypt. There were no priests, temples or shrines dedicated to her; nevertheless, throughout the pharaonic period she was more popular than any other god. Her only rival in popularity was Bes, the god who protected babies through childhood. In the later centuries of pharaonic Egypt, Bes was increasingly invoked to act beyond his role as protector of children, assisting mature men who were experiencing sexual dysfunction. In contrast, Taweret never deviated from her exclusive role as protector of pregnant women.
Taweret means ‘the Great One’. She was a composite creature: a pregnant hippopotamus with pendant human breasts, lion’s claws, and a crocodile’s tail. She certainly presented an awesome image, befitting her name. She was typically displayed with her lion-claw hands holding the sa, the ancient Egyptian version of a lifebelt, which was also the hieroglyph for protection. A tripartite wig further defined her as a divinity. In some instances, she was embellished with a sun disc and cow-horn crown, too, which affirmed her affiliation with Hathor, the goddess of love and sexuality. This further suggested her power was cosmic, and not simply limited to the household.
A magical vessel
This article features a rare, perhaps unique, magical vessel that was used to assist pregnant women. The statuette is made of a faience-like unglazed material and is 20 cm tall. The top has a fairly wide opening and is drilled down the centre to connect to a channel leading to Taweret’s right breast. When fluid was poured in the top, it would emerge through the statuette’s breast. The fluid would bring with it the magical power of the goddess.
