Taweret
Taweret is the hippopotamus goddess who protects women in pregnancy and childbirth and stands at the birth house with Bes, holding the sa-amulet and a knife, pregnant herself, lion-legged and with a crocodile's tail.
Taweret's identification with Isis, Hathor and Mut is Greco-Roman, and the temple of Ipet at Karnak belongs to a related hippopotamus goddess who is sometimes merged with her; the entry keeps the older household goddess primary. The planetary, zodiacal, tarot and Wiccan sabbat values are later Western correspondences. She is not Ammit.
Correspondences
- Planetary Correspondence
- Moon
Offerings
- Offerings
- Cool waterMilkBreadBeerIncenseA sa amulet
Sacred timing
- Sacred Timing
Symbols and forms
- Alternate Names
- TaurtTuerisReretThe Great One
- Gender Expression
- Feminine
- Titles
- The Great OneLady of the Birth HouseMistress of Pure WaterProtector of MothersShe Who Is Great
- Symbols
- HippopotamusSa amuletAnkhKnifeCrocodile tailLion legsPregnant bellyBirth wand
Practice
- Invocation Approach
- ToneWarm fierceAddressTaweretThe Great OneLady of the Birth HouseRelationshipThe great one between the mother and harmWarningShe is a hippopotamus and she does not negotiateResonancePregnant women midwives guardians of new life
- Modern Practice
Taweret is called in pregnancy, at a birth, and in any rite of protection around a newborn or a new work. The practice is practical: the amulet placed, the room guarded, the knife laid where it can be seen.
Nature and meaning
- Domain
- ChildbirthPregnancyProtection of childrenThe birth houseThe sa amuletThe northern skyFunerary rebirthThe hippopotamus
- Mythology Summary
Taweret is the hippopotamus goddess who protects women in pregnancy and childbirth and stands at the birth house with Bes, holding the sa-amulet and a knife, pregnant herself, lion-legged and with a crocodile's tail. She has no myth cycle and no temple of her own; her power is carried on the ivory birth wands, the amulets and the household objects, and as 'Mistress of Pure Water' she also guards the dead into rebirth. In the late temple at Karnak she is one of the hippopotamus mothers of the sun, and she is not Ammit, the devourer.
Details
- Correspondences
- ColorsBlueGreenRedBlackScentsLotusMyrrhFrankincenseMetalsSilverCopperGoldAnimalsHippopotamusCrocodileLionSow
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