OC 008 · Figure · Africa
Blue faience hippopotamus
- Number on this site
- OC 008
- What it is
- Figure
- Made
- About 1961 to 1878 BC
- Period
- Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12
- Material
- Faience
- Size
- 20 cm long
- Found
- In the tomb of the steward Senbi at Meir. Meir
- Now held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
- Museum number
- 17.9.1
A hippopotamus painted all over with marsh plants, as if standing among them in the river. The Met calls it “William”.1
Where it sits in human time
Made about 3,950 years ago. On this strip, each step to the right is ten times closer to today.
Seen in
- The gift of the river · Ancient Egypt
Filed under
Sources for this page
Every number on this page comes from one of these. How we check.
Last reviewed 12 November 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hippopotamus (“William”), from the tomb of Senbi II at Meir. Dynasty 12, ca. 1961–1878 BC. Collection record 544227, Open Access (CC0). www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544227Used for: The faience hippopotamus and where it was found. Checked 12 November 2026.