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Egyptian Artifacts

Sketch of a Hippo

This is a sketch of a hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― completed by an artist during the joint reign of Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 (c. 1479–1425 B.C.E., 18th Dynasty). Ostraca were pieces of limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ that artists would practice drawing and writing on, simply because papyrus 𓅓𓍑𓏏𓏛 was very expensive!

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, in some cases, hippos π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ―π“¦ were also thought to be powerful protectors π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ against evil!

For example, the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was represented as a hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― standing on two 𓏻 feet. Taweret 𓏏𓄿𓅩𓂋𓏏𓆗 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of childbirth and was the protector of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ and children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ. However, when the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― was in its animal form, the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― was a representation of Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£, the god π“ŠΉ of chaos!

In this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏however, I don’t believe there’s any hidden meaning or good 𓄀𓆑𓂋 vs. evil π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“π“…¨ debate going on! I think the artist was just simply practicing! Usually ostraca contain guidelines or a grid, but this one does not! I’m assuming this means that this was the work of an experienced artist! Also, the hippo π“Œ‰π“π“ƒ― is beautiful π“„€, and it’s also colored in, so it looks like a completed work and not necessarily a sketch!