In Egyptian mythology, Taweret is the hippopotamus-headed goddess who protects childbirth.
Taweret appears as a pregnant, bipedal female hippopotamus with feline limbs and the tail of a Nile crocodile. Her frightening animal features had a protective purpose: female hippopotamuses fiercely defend their young, so the image conveyed power against danger while her breasts and swollen belly emphasized motherhood and fertility.
Her name means “she who is great,” a calming title used for potentially dangerous deities. Taweret was primarily a household goddess, invoked to protect pregnant women, mothers, and infants. Amulets, household objects, ivory ritual wands, and birth-related objects frequently carried her image.
Taweret is sometimes confused with Bes, another household protector often linked with childbirth, but Bes is a dwarf-like male deity rather than a hippopotamus goddess. Wadjet and Sekhmet likewise have important protective roles, yet neither is Taweret’s characteristic form or domain.