Taweret

Taweret (also spelled Tauret, Taueret, Ta-weret, Twert, and in Greek Thouéris, Thoeris) is the ancient Egyptian goddess of childbirth and fertility. Her name, derived from Egyptian tꜣ-wrt, means “the great female” or “she who is great,” a pacificatory epithet intended to appease a potentially dangerous deity. In Egyptian mythology, Taweret was typically depicted as a bipedal female hippopotamus with feline attributes, lion’s paws, crocodile back and tail, and human breasts—a composite form symbolizing protective power. She bore the epithets “Lady of Heaven,” “Mistress of the Horizon,” “She Who Removes Water,” “Mistress of Pure Water,” and “Lady of the Birth House.”

History and Development

Hippopotamuses inhabited the Nile from pre-dynastic times, and Taweret’s protective role emerged early in Egyptian religion. As a household goddess, she was invoked by pregnant women and new mothers. Amulets of Taweret were common, often placed on children or in homes to ward off evil spirits. Her image also appeared on bedposts, headrests, and cosmetics spoons. Over time, she absorbed attributes of the lion-headed Sekhmet and the cat-headed Bastet, further emphasizing her protective nature.

Cultural Significance

Taweret was not the central deity of a state cult, but her popular worship endured for millennia. In the New Kingdom, she was sometimes associated with the sky goddess Nut and the hippopotamus goddess Opet (Ipet). The Greek name Thouéris appears in texts of the Ptolemaic period, showing her syncretism with the Greek goddess Artemis. Taweret also features in astronomical contexts: the northern constellation of Draco was often called the Hippopotamus in Egyptian star charts.

Name Variants

The name appears in numerous forms across ancient languages. In Ancient Greek: Θουέρις (Thouéris), Thoeris, Taouris, Toeris. Akkadian transcriptions include Ta‑we‑ret and Ta‑ú‑ra. These variants reflect the phonetic evolution as Egyptians interacted with Near Eastern cultures through trade and diplomacy.

Famous Bearers (Modern)

Although not a common modern given name, Taweret occasionally appears in fiction and video games, such as in the Egyptian Mythology series of adventure games and as a character in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

• Meaning: Divine epithet meaning “the great female” or “she who is great”
• Origin: Ancient Egyptian
• Type: Goddess name, protective and fertility deity
• Usage: Historically Egyptian, rarely used as a modern personal name
• Gender: Female