What does hippo mean in Africa. Encyclopedia of symbols

Hippo: Mother Goddess

In the south of Mozambique, as in Ancient Egypt, the hippopotamus was often revered as a mother goddess in the guise of a hippopotamus. Many tribes considered hippos to be the rulers of the entire green underwater kingdom, where amazing variegated flowers bloom.

It was believed that the hippo goddess patronizes pregnant women and young children. Many legends tell how these goddesses in their underwater kingdoms took care of babies who were saved by themselves or whom people entrusted to their care. But the legends of the tribes of Mali, on the contrary, tell of monster hippos that terrified people and devoured rice reserves. As a result, the behemoth monster was defeated thanks to the cunning of one woman.

Source: "Symbols of Africa" ​​Heike Ovuzu