To the earliest Egyptians, the herds of hippopotamuses that inhabited the swamps along the edges of the Nile River, presented a constant danger. To provide physical protection, and to guard against their supernatural powers, these wild animals were propitiated with offerings or rendered harmless by charms. The hippopotamuses themselves also served as models for small amulets that were placed in graves to empower the deceased against monsters in the next world.

During the Twelfth Dynasty, private burials were richer than they had ever been, and the earlier custom of including little statuettes of hippopotamuses was revived. Most of these figures were made of blue-green faience with marsh plants outlined in black on their sides to suggest a natural setting. The faience hippopotamus in the Museum’s collection comes from the tomb of the steward Senbi at Meir.

Since its arrival in 1917, this hippopotamus has been a favorite with Museum visitors, and for many years has been known as William due to an article by Captain H. M. Raleigh that appeared in Punch and was reprinted with permission in the Museum’s Bulletin (June 18, 1931). The author was given a color print of the statuette, which stood in the place of honor in his living room. Gradually, it assumed the position of an oracle in his family. The Raleighs called it William, and claimed that its expression varied from benevolent to disapproving, according to whether or not it was in sympathy with their plans.

William is one of the finest, as well as the largest, of Middle Kingdom hippopotamus figures. The original still bears the fingerprints of the person who made it nearly four thousand years ago.