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Egyptian Artifacts

World Hippopotamus Day

Apparently yesterday 𓋴𓆑𓇳 was World Hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― Day and I missed it! I guess it’s not that big of a deal because I feel like every day π“ŽŸπ“‡³ is hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― day to me! This picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 is the last time I saw William at the MET before I moved to Florida, and yes I was crying!Β 

World Hippopotamus Day
Me with my plush William (and the real William) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. I was crying in this picture because I don’t know when I will see William in person next as I have moved to Florida!

It’s no mystery that I love the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ that were common during the Middle Kingdom! β€œWilliam” is the name π“‚‹π“ˆ– given to the blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― at the MET! William was made in the first part of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1961–1878 B.C.E.) and was found in a tomb π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰ in Upper Egypt 𓇓. 

In Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were both feared and respected π“ˆ™π“†‘π“„…. They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley 𓇗. 

However, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil, which is why statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ such as Willam were placed in tombs π“‡‹π“‡©π“Šƒπ“‰! If you look closely though, three of William’s legs have been restored – they were probably broken off in antiquity to protect the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 from the hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―! 

A closeup image of William at the MET! This image clearly shows the painted Lotus flowers and his restored legs!

William has lotus flowers 𓆸π“ͺ painted all over him to associate him with rebirth π“„Ÿπ“Ώπ“…± and regeneration! William is most likely painted blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ to represent the Nile River π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί.Β 

I hope everyone had a wonderful World Hippopotamus π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― Day!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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