The goddess Taweret – whose name literally means “the Great One” – has the head and body of a hippopotamus, the tail and back of a crocodile, and the feet of a lion, all animals known for the aggressiveness when protecting their young. Since this deity was venerated in domestic settings, there are no temples or colossal statues dedicated to her. Small clay or wood statuettes were usually placed in homes to protect newborn infants or to promote fertility.
