My sister π’πππ sent me this picture ππ ±π that she took at the Brooklyn Museum and I immediately knew that I had to share it with all π of you!Β
Itβs no mystery that I love the ancient Egyptian hippopotamus πππ― statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ! My favorites are the blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯ faience π£πππΈπΌ ones that are typically dated to the Middle Kingdom time period!
What I love about this picture ππ ±π is it shows the diversity of the art that was created during the Middle Kingdom! The blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯ faience π£πππΈπΌ hippopotamus πππ― statue ππ ±ππΎ is a lot more detailed and refined, while the clay πͺππ΄π hippo πππ― statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ are a little rougher!
The hippo πππ― statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ in the forefront of the image ππ ±π are made out of clay πͺππ΄π and were most likely used as a kind of offering during the βFeast of the White Hippopotamus.β During this festival, a hippopotamus πππ― was dragged on a sled before the pharaoh ππ». The base that these two π» hippo πππ― statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ have are representative of that sled!
The blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯ faience π£πππΈπΌ hippopotamus πππ― statue ππ ±ππΎ is always a treat to see and I love seeing them across various museums! There are lotus flowers πΈπΈπΈ painted on the sides of the hippo πππ― to represent the different plants that grew along the Nile ππππ ±ππππΊ! The legs on this statue ππ ±ππΎ are actually restored!
FUN FACT: did you know that most blue ππΉππΏπΈπ₯ faience π£πππΈπΌ hippopotamus πππ― statues ππ ±ππΎπͺ have broken feet because they were broken on purpose so the hippo πππ― would not be a threat to the deceased person it was buried with?
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.Β