Apparently yesterday ๐ด๐๐ณ was World Hippopotamus ๐๐๐ฏ Day and I missed it! I guess itโs not that big of a deal because I feel like every day ๐๐ณ is hippo ๐๐๐ฏ day to me! This picture ๐๐ ฑ๐ is the last time I saw William at the MET before I moved to Florida, and yes I was crying!

Itโs no mystery that I love the blue ๐๐น๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฅ faience ๐ฃ๐๐๐ธ๐ผ hippos ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฆ that were common during the Middle Kingdom! โWilliamโ is the name ๐๐ given to the blue ๐๐น๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฅ faience ๐ฃ๐๐๐ธ๐ผ hippo ๐๐๐ฏ at the MET! William was made in the first part of the 12th Dynasty (c. 1961โ1878 B.C.E.) and was found in a tomb ๐๐ฉ๐๐ in Upper Egypt ๐.
In Egypt ๐๐ ๐๐, hippos ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฆ were both feared and respected ๐๐๐ . They were feared because they were one of the most dangerous animals in the Nile Valley ๐.
However, hippos ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฆ were also thought to be powerful protectors ๐ ๐๐ก๐ against evil, which is why statues ๐๐ ฑ๐๐พ๐ช such as Willam were placed in tombs ๐๐ฉ๐๐! If you look closely though, three of Williamโs legs have been restored โ they were probably broken off in antiquity to protect the deceased ๐ ๐๐ฑ from the hippopotamus ๐๐๐ฏ!

William has lotus flowers ๐ธ๐ช painted all over him to associate him with rebirth ๐๐ฟ๐ ฑ and regeneration! William is most likely painted blue ๐๐น๐๐ฟ๐ธ๐ฅ to represent the Nile River ๐๐๐๐ ฑ๐๐๐๐บ.
I hope everyone had a wonderful World Hippopotamus ๐๐๐ฏ Day!
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.
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