127 Frog God Heqt

Museum Description: Relic Boxes and Bronze Votives

Room: 62/Case: 29/Number: EA 67191

Scripture: Exodus 8:5

Well done if you have been able to find this tiny artefact!  It is the only representation of the frog goddess Heqt in The British Museum.  It is easy to know which of the ten plagues of Egypt humiliated this goddess - the second, the infestation of frogs.  The frog was considered a symbol of fertility and resurrection for the Egyptians, but was an unclean animal for the Israelites.  The Egyptians used many animals and birds to represent their gods.  They would often make an image of the whole animal, or represent the head on a human body.  The animals and birds would be kept in their respective temples and even mummified when they died.