Ipet

deity hippopotamus single tradition · 2

Ipet was a protective hippopotamus goddess closely grouped with Taweret and others. Her name ("the Nurse") demonstrates her connection to birth, child rearing, and general caretaking. Spell 269 in the Pyramid Texts mentions Ipet and succinctly demonstrates her nurturing role; the spell announces that the deceased king will suck on the goddess's "white, dazzling, sweet milk" when he ascends to the heavens.

↻ synthesized from 2 sources

When

First attested: 2686 BCE
Attested period: -2686 – 390
Historical notes: Cult evidence from Old Kingdom period.

Relationships

co occurs with: Dea Gravida, wpwtj, Ammit, Isis, Hathor, Seth, Mut, Eye of Ra
syncretized with: Taweret, Reret, Hedjet

Expand to full subgraph →

Mentioned by

Sources

wikipedia (2)

Source passages

“Although Ipet (aka Apet or Aptet) is mentioned in the Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts, and Taweret is seen frequently on Middle Kingdom ritual objects, hippopotamus goddesses did not gain a significant role in Egyptian mythology until the New Kingdom”
#11425 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001

“Ipet, sometimes called Ȧpit, Apt, Apet, Aptu, Epet, Opet, or Ȧpȧpit in outdated literature, a hippopotamus goddess commonly identified with Taweret.”
#23918 · extracted by google/gemini-2.0-flash-001