https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/curatorial-departments/egyptian-art/william-100

William the Hippo: Celebrating 100 Years at The Met

In 1917, The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired a small ancient Egyptian faience hippopotamus. Created in a captivating blue, the little hippo quickly won people's hearts. He received his now-famous nickname, William, in 1931, and today he is the informal mascot of the Museum, beloved by museum-goers around the world.

A new display at The Met, Conversation between Two Hippos, celebrates the 100th anniversary of William's arrival at the Museum. In the installation William is juxtaposed with a ceramic hippo created about 4,000 years later by the American artist Carl Walters and recently acquired by The American Wing. The two hippos will be on view from September 12, 2017, through April 1, 2018, in gallery 107.

Whether you are planning to visit the hippos in person or celebrate William's centenary from afar, you can explore different aspects of his life and story on this page. More content about William will be added during September and October, so stay tuned!