Taweret
also Toeris
Popular protective goddess fighting the forces of evil with a burning torch or the like, above all assisting women giving birth when both the woman and the new-born were especially vulnerable. Her picture is often found on beds and headrests, as during sleep people are defenseless. Like the animal whose shape she had, she was caring of children and fierce in their defense, often invoked when they were stung by scorpions.She was identified with the Egyptian constellation of the hippopotamus and called Mistress of the Horizon She is depicted as such in the ceiling of the tomb of Seti I.
She was depicted as a hippopotamus standing erect on its hind feet. She had pendulous female breasts, a bloated belly as if she were pregnant, and wore a long wig.
