Normally Egyptian gods were shown in profile, but instead Bes appeared in full face portrait, ithyphallic, and sometimes in a soldier's tunic, so as to appear ready to launch an attack on any approaching evil. In the New Kingdom, tattoos of Bes could be found on the thighs of dancers, musicians and servant girls. Bes is an Egyptian god of play, war and recreation. Bes (also spelt as Bisu) was an Egyptian deity worshipped in the later periods of dynastic history as a protector of households and in particular mothers and children. Bes, a minor god of ancient Egypt, represented as a dwarf with large head, goggle eyes, protruding tongue, bowlegs, bushy tail, and usually a crown of feathers. Bes met the Earth Force when they tricked Grog into taking them to Seth's dimension. Since he drove off evil, Bes also came to symbolize the good things in life – music, dance, and sexual pleasure. Bes (/ˈbɛs/; also spelled as Bisu), together with his feminine counterpart Beset, is an ancient Egyptian deity worshipped as a protector of households and, in particular, of mothers, children and childbirth. Amulet of Bes; 1070–712 BC; faience; height: 3.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), Bes and Beset; 664–332 BC; limestone; height: 31.7 cm, width: 22.5 cm; Louvre, Cypriot statuette of Bes; late 6th – early 5th century BC; limestone; overall: 14 × 8.3 × 7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Statuette of Bes; 525 BC; bronze; overall: 8 × 3.5 × 2.2 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, Ohio, USA), Cosmetic container; 525–404 BC; faience; height: 9.2 cm, width: 4.4 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Stela of Bes; 4th century BC-1st century AD; painted limestone; height: 38.7 cm, width: 17.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bell in the form of Bes; 332-30 BC; cupreous metal; height: 6.3 cm, diameter: 4.6 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fresco from the Temple of Isis in Pompeii depicting Bes, in the Naples National Archaeological Museum (Italy). He protected households, mothers and children from disease and evil spirits. The latter was the goddess of childbirth, dancing and music. The rest of the pantheon are always shown in profile. He was a god of war, yet he was also a patron of childbirth and the home, and was associated with sexuality, humour, music and dancing. In later myths, Bes came to represent positive energy and goodness. In general, he was considered the defender of homes, performing tasks such as preventing poisonous snakes from entering homes, caring for children and helping women in their tasks. [citation needed] He also protected against scorpion bites. [4] After the Third Intermediate Period, Bes is often seen as just the head or the face, often worn as amulets. Husband to Taweret, the goddess of childbirth, he stands at the side of Ammon-Ra ready to bestow good fortune on those who deserve it. Yet the Christians cast him as alien and disturbing in order to demonstrate the triumph of the new faith over older customs. The character of Bes filtering down to us through the ages may have influenced religious behavior around the Mediterranean, culminating in cults such as Pan the goatish god and Bacchus. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. To scare away demons during birth, Bes would dance around the room, shaking his rattle and yelling to scare away demons that might put a curse on the child. Bes: Egyptian God of Marriage and Fertility God Bes was worshiped in ancient Egypt as the protector of homes, mothers, children, and childbirth. His cult is archaeologically attested since the 12th Dynasty (c. 1991–1802 BC). Modern scholars such as James Romano claim that in its earliest inception Bes was a representation of a lion rearing up on its hind legs. He was a guardian against snakes and misfortune. Within the Egyptian pantheon, Bes was a domestic god, comparable to the sphinx-like deity Tutu and the hippopotamus goddess Tawaret. The name Bes is now used to designate a group of deities of similar appearance with a wide variety of ancient names. Bes was particularly popular among women and children. He was a dwarf wearing a lion's skin. What a guy! Although seen as a repulsive shabbily clad bandy-legged dwarf, Bes is one of the best. During the time of his worship, Bes was associated with more prominent Egyptian gods such as Amun and Hathor. Bes was primarily the protector of childbirth. Amun. Upon death, Sekhmet continued to protect them, bearing them to the afterlife. Yet others think the theory that the crude drawing of a god shows Bes is insane – why would an Israelite site hail the minor Egyptian deity. And nightmares. [citation needed], At the end of the 6th century BC, images of Bes began to spread across the Achaemenid Empire, which Egypt belonged to at the time. Bes was a household protector, becoming responsible – throughout ancient Egyptian history – for such varied tasks as killing snakes, fighting off evil spirits, watching after children, and aiding women in labour by fighting off evil spirits, and thus present with Taweret at births. [citation needed], Images of the deity, quite different from those of the other gods, were kept in homes. He is into Home Protection, Children, Music and Mirth and can even come in amulet form as a talisman against evil spirits. For historical background and detailed dates, see Egypt, history of. Bes later came to be regarded as the defender of everything good and the enemy of all that is bad. Nov 7, 2015 - Bes or Bisu Bes may have been an imported Egyptian god, possibly of Nubian origin. From shop clpstudio. He scared away demons from houses, so his statue was put up as a protector. [citation needed]. In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet (/ ˈ s ɛ k ˌ m ɛ t / or Sachmis (/ ˈ s æ k m ɪ s /), also spelled Sakhmet, Sekhet, Sakhet, or Scheme, among other spellings), is a warrior goddess as well as goddess of healing.She is depicted as a lioness.She was seen as the protector of the pharaohs and led them in warfare. I realized part of Bes’ uniqueness among his fellow Egyptian gods is that, aside from cow-eared Hathor, Bes is the only other deity depicted face-on. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He was portrayed on mirrors, ointment vases, and other personal articles. Bes was a popular guardian deity, popping up on household items and amulets like this one Bes, the family god, protected children from the dangers of snakes and scorpions. Corrections? Bes does not look like he is Egyptian. In time he would be regarded as the defender of everything good and the enemy of all that is bad. Egyptian God Bes on a Canvas Vintage Swiss Military Bag Satchel - Hand Painted - Cleaned and Sanitized clpstudio. He was possibly the brother of Khonshu and Montu, sons of Ammon-Ra and Amaunet, as was Ptah. Bes was the god of fertility in ancient Egyptian belief. He was associated with music and with childbirth and was represented in the “birth houses” devoted to the cult of the child god. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [3] The Balearic island of Ibiza derives its name from the god's name, brought along with the first Phoenician settlers in 654 BC. In time he would be regarded as the defender of everything good and the enemy of all that is bad. He brought good luck and good health to all that honored him. Contrary to the usual rule of representation, Bes was commonly shown full-faced rather than in profile, since full-faced figures were marginal to the normal, ordered world. Bes was a widely worshipped deity in ancient Egypt and was believed to be the deity of music, merriment, and childbirth. Updates? To the ancient Egyptians, Bes was a friendly, protective god. Over time, the image of Bes became more Persian in style, as he was depicted wearing Persian clothes and headdress. Images of Bes have been found at the Persian capital of Susa, and as far away as central Asia. Worship of Bes spread as far north as the area of Syria and as far west as the Balearic Islands (Ibiza) in Spain, and later into the Roman and Achaemenid Empires. Let’s take a look at the god of fertility and his role in Egyptian mythology. Bes was a unique god. Although he began as a protector of the pharaoh, he became very popular with every day Egyptian people because he protected women and children … Bast is usually shown with a feline head or ears on a woman's body or as a (usually, … Myth, a symbolic narrative, usually of unknown origin and at least partly traditional, that ostensibly relates actual events and that is especially associated with religious belief. Bes was the god of dreams, luck, dancing, and he was the protector of the household and its belongings. [citation needed], Like many Egyptian gods, the worship of Bes or Beset was exported overseas. Many instances of Bes masks and costumes from the New Kingdom and later have been uncovered. Ornaments of the god were often placed around the home to protect the inhabitants and bring happiness. The cult is thought to have originated in Nubia, modern day Sudan. Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt! Bes was a protector god who helped in childbirth and promoted fertility. He does not appear to be Egyptian at all, but where he does come from his largely unknown. In later historical periods, Bes became known and worshipped among the Phoenicians and the Cypriots. It is unknown why demons were present or what role Egypt played in the conflict. This Bes figure is made from glazed earthenware and measures approximately 10cm x 5cm. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He was envisioned as a "full-faced, bow-legged dwarf with an over-sized head, goggle eyes, protruding tongue, bushy tail and usually a … Bes, a minor god of ancient Egypt, represented as a dwarf with large head, goggle eyes, protruding tongue, bowlegs, bushy tail, and usually a crown of feathers. In Egyptian mythology, Bes was the god of fertility and childbirth. Description: Bes is a very unusual god. Images of him were also found during the Persian Empire, when he gradually came to be depicted in Persian clothes and headdresses. Bes definition: an ancient Egyptian god represented as a grotesque hairy dwarf : the patron of music and... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Weingarten, Judith, "The Arrival of Bes[et] on Middle-Minoan Crete". He was a complex being who was both a deity and a demonic fighter. Bes is a member of the Ennead, an extra-dimensional race of beings once worshiped by the people of Ancient Egypt, and the god of luck and probability. He resembles gods found in central and southern Africa, and his function is very much like that of the Fool Shaman. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Bes (Bisu, Aha) was an ancient Egyptian dwarf god. After the child … Unlike the other Egyptian gods and goddesses, who were depicted in noble positions and likenesses, Bes was usually pictured to be a dwarf with a large head, stumpy legs and a generally ugly look. Like the hippopotamus god Taweret, Bes was the protector of women in childbirth. Bes (also spelled as Bisu) was an Egyptian god worshipped in the later periods of dynastic history as a protector of households and in particular mothers and children. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Bes, stone relief at the Temple of Hathor, Dandarah, Egypt. Later the Roman name Ebusus was derived from this designation. He is like gods found in other parts of Africa. Bast or Bastet. These show considerable wear, thought to be too great for occasional use at festivals, and are therefore thought to have been used by professional performers, or given out for rent. Egyptian religious beliefs and practices were…. In the early years of Egyptology, it was generally believed that Bes emerged as a god only during the Middle Kingdom period, but later studies indicated that the cult of the dwarf deity existed at the dawn of the Old Kingdom. Osiris, one of Egypt’s most important deities, was god of the underworld. Titles : God of Dwarves, Protector of Households, God of Pleasure. The Egyptians put a statue in their room or a carving over their bed to protect them from bad dreams. This dog-faced deity was the god of embalming and the dead. Omissions? Myths are…, Ancient Egyptian religion, indigenous beliefs of ancient Egypt from predynastic times (4th millennium bce) to the disappearance of the traditional culture in the first centuries ce. An Egyptian god Bes also known as Bisu was the protector of pregnant women, children and the households. The god’s figure was that of a grotesque mountebank and was intended to inspire joy or drive away pain and sorrow, his … Amun was originally a local … According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. History: (Egyptian Myth) - Bes is the son of the ancient sky-god Ammon-Ra, the first ruler of the gods of Ancient Egypt, and Maat, the goddess of truth and judgment. It is distinguished from symbolic behaviour (cult, ritual) and symbolic places or objects (temples, icons). ... Ra, the sun god. God of Domestic Protection Appearances can be so deceptive. Bes was a household protector, becoming responsible – throughout ancient Egyptian history – for such varied tasks as killing snakes, fighting off evil spirits, watching after children, and aiding women in labour by fighting off evil spirits, and thus present with Taweret at births. Bes was shown fighting demons in World War 2, a conflict that was started between the Greek Olympian gods. 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