These frog ππππ figures are dated to the 1st and 2nd Dynasties, which is grouped as part of the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3000-2675 B.C.E.) so these are quite old! This is about the time that Egyptologists think that writing πππ₯ was first developed in Egypt ππ ππ! However, this form of writing πππ₯ consisted of very rudimentary symbols and donβt really represent Middle Egyptian or hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, which is the form of the language that persisted throughout Egyptian history (and the one that I know).
Frogs πππππ¦ were not really written about at all during these predynastic times, and these statues πππππΎπͺ predate a lot of religious writing πππ₯ and iconography so all Egyptologists can do is make educated guesses on their significance!
So what inferences can we make about these cute frog ππππ figures? Scientifically speaking, frogs πππππ¦ would appear after the flooding of the Nile River ππππ ±ππππΊ, so they were associated with the life πΉ/the regenerative qualities of water π. Not only is water π necessary for humans, but also for irrigating land for agriculture.
The frog ππππ is also associated with the goddess πΉπ Heqet ππππ who is represented as a woman with a frog ππππ head. Also, the frog determinative π appears in her name ππ so she was clearly associated with frogs πππππ¦. Heqet ππππ was the goddess πΉπ of birth and rebirth. She also protected π ππ‘π women ππππππͺ during the childbirth process so it is possible these statues πππππΎπͺ could be symbols of protection π ππ‘π for childbirth.