A Who's Who of World Mythology : Apet


Apet or Opet is the hippopotamus goddess of Thebes. She is a form of Taueret or Taurt, a goddess of fertility, domestic interests, and childbirth. The literal interpretation of Taueret is “the great fat one,” though she is more usually referred to as the “Mighty One.” In the book of the dead, she is portrayed as a protector of the dead, though she is sometimes depicted as the female counterpart to Set. Taueret is in turn identified as a variant of Hathor. Apet is also identified with Mut, “the mother,” and wife to Amon.

Apet or Taurt is usually shown as a female hippopotamus with large udders. She stands upright on her hind legs with her left paw resting on a Sa, a symbol of protection represented by a stylized life preserver made of papyrus and worn by river travelers. In some paintings, she had the legs of a lion and the tail of a crocodile. Sometimes she held a torch to ward off nightmares and demons. She is also known as Rert, Rertu, and in Greece, Thoueris.

It is believed Thebes is derived from a variation of Apet’s name. A female article, T, was placed before her name, Ape, to form Tap or Tape. This was pronounced Thebai by the Greeks. The people of Thebes often named their children after her and decorated their homes, cribs, and tombs with her images.