William

To the ancient Egyptians, the hippopotamus was one of the most dangerous animals in their world. They not only attacked fishing boats in daily life, but one could also encounter them on the waterways in the journey to the afterlife. The hippopotamus was a force of nature that needed to be propitiated and controlled, both in this life and the next. The most famous Egyptian hippopotamus can be found in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA). It is a gift of Edward S. Harkness, donated to the museum in 1917. For many years it has been known as "William" (due to an article by Captain H.M. Raleigh) - the Metropolitan's unofficial mascot. 

It is one of a pair found in a shaft associated with the tomb chapel of the steward Senbi II at Meir, an Upper Egyptian site about thirty miles south of modern Asyut. My dear husband bought a replica at The Met Store, together with a replica of the "Sleepy Hippopotamus", from the Norbert Schimmel Collection. 



Perfect birthday presents (2011)! Like the originals, both are decorated with drawings of lotus blossoms and marsh plants which could be found in their favorite habitat, the shallow banks of the Nile River. An interesting fact about the original "William" is that three of its legs have been restored. As William was part of Senbi's burial equipment, his legs were purposely broken to prevent the creature from harming the deceased. Luckily, "my William's" legs are all perfect, and I am proud to have a real celebrity in my collection.