Who is hippo Egyptian goddess Taweret in Moon Knight episode 4?

Warning: spoilers ahead for Moon Knight episode 4 on Disney Plus.

Episode 4 of Marvel’s Moon Knight on Disney Plus raised lots of questions, particularly surrounding the baffling cliffhanger ending that saw alters Marc Spector and Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) actually meet in the flesh.

That wasn’t the only surprise in store at the end of the instalment, as the pair were also greeted by the hippo Egyptian goddess Taweret, one of the friendlier deities they’ve met throughout the past four episodes.

Fans are nonplussed as to the direction Moon Knight will go from next week, when it will presumably be revealed how Marc and Steven wound up in a mental institution surrounded by patients and medical workers who have taken the form of people in their lives… as well as, fans suspect, a third alter called Jake Lockley.

So how does the new character Taweret factor into the story?

Who is the hippo Egyptian goddess Taweret?

In Ancient Egyptian mythology, Taweret was depicted as having the features of a hippo, a lion and a crocodile, with her face embodying a hippo, as shown in Moon Knight.

Taweret was known for her protection of mothers and children, with her image frequently seen on tools used by midwives during childbirth.

While Taweret was depicted as being benevolent, she also boasted a fierce streak, which she was believed to use to ward off malevolent forces, hence why she was relied upon during childbirth.

In addition to representing fertility, the goddess was also a symbol for rebirth and rejuvenation.

What makes her especially intriguing for the purposes of Moon Knight is that she was also understood to help people who had died pass into the afterlife safely… bringing into question whether Marc and Steven are currently in a form of purgatory.

Does Taweret appear in Marvel comics?

While Khonshu, the Egyptian moon god who uses Marc as his avatar, does appear in the Marvel comics, Taweret does not.

One of Taweret’s most famous appearances on TV before Moon Knight was in Lost, when a statue of the Egyptian goddess was revealed to be on the island.

When the statue was first seen on the show, only the figure’s foot remained after it had been predominantly destroyed.

However, in a flashback sequence, the entire structure was revealed.

Who plays Taweret?

Taweret is played in Moon Knight by Antonia Salib, who revealed to Variety that she was ‘given licence’ by the makers of the show ‘to create my character’.

‘Personally, it felt like such a collaborative process, which was brilliant for such a big organisation,’ she said.

‘From the moment when I read the scenes when I was auditioning to when I started working with the director Mohamed Diab and the costume team to VFX, it felt like I was given licence to create my character and everyone was on board together.’

How many episodes of Moon Knight are left?

There are only two more episodes of Moon Knight, so savour them while you can!

Over three weeks after the finale airs, Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi will begin, with Ms Marvel beginning the following month.

Moon Knight is available to watch on Disney Plus with new episodes released on Wednesdays.

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