Tawaret (Thoeris)

In Ancient Egyptian religion, Tawaret was the household goddess of fertility and childbirth. She was portrayed as a pregnant female hippopotamus with human breasts, feline limbs and the tale of a crocodile. Female hippopotami were revered in Ancient Egyptian times and were considered apotropaic as they were fiercely protective of their young. She gained popularity as a goddess from the Middle kingdom. Theoris is the name given to the goddess by the Ancient Greeks.