Mating Hippopotami, 664–30 B.C.E. Limestone, 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. (14 x 9.5 x 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 36.262. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 36.262_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)
Mating Hippopotami, 664–30 B.C.E. Limestone, 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. (14 x 9.5 x 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 36.262. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.36.262_wwg8.jpg)
Mating Hippopotami
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
In Egyptian art, one symbol could represent both a trait and its opposite. The hippopotamus could represent great danger and chaos or, alternatively, fertility and protection in childbirth. The statuette of a male hippopotamus could represent the god Seth, who embodied danger, chaos, and disorder in the world. Yet the rare limestone statuette of hippopotami mating perhaps served as a symbol that preserved the fertility of the earth. And a necklace consisting of images of the female hippopotamus goddess Taweret could protect a woman in labor.
MEDIUM
Limestone
DATES
664–30 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
Dynasty 26, or later
PERIOD
Late Period to Ptolemaic Period
DIMENSIONS
5 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. (14 x 9.5 x 29.2 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
36.262
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Compact limestone (?) sculpture of two crocodiles enclosed in one body (?). Heads worked on great detail, body undecorated. Meaning unknown. Possible representation of the goddess Tanent.
Condition: Good; one side of body has extensive black stains. Other side of body is considerably weathered, apparently by vegetal growth during burial. Minor chips on various parts of head. Very fine workmanship.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Mating Hippopotami, 664–30 B.C.E. Limestone, 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 x 11 1/2 in. (14 x 9.5 x 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 36.262. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth,er), 36.262_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 36.262_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 2012
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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