Egyptian Red Faience Bes Amulet

£ 195.00

An Egyptian red faience amulet depicting the god Bes. The deity is in a squat position with his legs slightly bent and his hands resting on his hips. He is presented in a grotesque manner wearing a plumed headdress consisting of ostrich feathers with protruding ears just below. The reverse is unadorned and the amulet has been pierced horizontally through the headdress for suspension.

Date: 1069 BC–664 BC
Period: Third Intermediate Period
Provenance: Prince collection, 1990’s-2014, ex Private collection 1970’s-1990’s.
Condition: Very fine condition, some encrustation to the surface.

In stock

SKU: LD-859 Category: Tag:

Bes was known as a dwarf god and considered a protector of the home and of women and children. He was an unusual deity in the Egyptian pantheon as very little is known of his creation and he had no dedicated temples. He was however one of the most important gods and was worshiped fastidiously across Egyptian homes, with small dedicated shrines. Visually he was portrayed front-on, in comparison to a profile view seen of Egyptian wall art. He was described as a dwarf god, a warrior with a demonic quality to him and was a culmination of man and animal. As a warrior he was seen as a protector, initially especially for women and children but this role grew to include anyone who needed it.

To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings: Ancient Egyptian Gods.

Weight 0.6 g
Dimensions W 0.8 x H 1.1 cm
Culture

Egyptian Mythology

Faience

Region

Reference: For a similar item,The National Museums Liverpool, item 56.22.187

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