While the hippopotamus was connected to more than one god, the most popular is called Taweret (pron. Tow-er-ret). Taweret was seen as strong and powerful, but she was also protective, and a symbol of motherhood and childbirth.

The ancient Egyptians believed that death was not the end, but that you went on to be re-born into the afterlife. Bright blue figures of hippopotami, like the one above, have been found in tombs with images of water plants and even birds and butterflies painted on them. It is thought the figures were put in the tombs near the mummy to represent rebirth in the afterlife.