Blue Faience Hippopotamuses: Ancient Egyptian Artifacts Worldwide

Blue faience hippopotamus statuettes were popular in ancient Egyptian art, symbolizing fertility and rebirth. Around 50–60 survive today, scattered globally. Notable examples include: William at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (ca. 1961–1878 BCE), a mascot since 1917, found in a tomb at Meir with three restored legs; a specimen at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (ca. 2000 BCE) with lotus and duck motifs; a unique Louvre piece (ca. 3800–1710 BCE) with legs connected by faience on a plinth, sold by the Cairo Museum; a legless hippo at the Brooklyn Museum (ca. 1938–1539 BCE), reflecting the practice of breaking legs to prevent harm; a RISD Museum example (2040–1638 BCE) associated with the goddess Tawaret; and a rare head-turned hippo with a dragonfly from the George Ortiz Collection (1850–1700 BCE). These artifacts illustrate beliefs about chaos, protection, and rebirth.