A number of different Ancient Egyptian deities are now referred to the ‘Bes-image’. They are mostly depicted as dwarves, sometimes with large plumed headdresses, and lion-like features such as manes and tails. They had domain over the household and served as a protective figure, especially for women and children, by warding off evil with music or the ‘Sa’ symbol. For this reason, the Bes-image was a popular choice for amulets, as it was believed it held apotropaic qualities. This mould would have created such amulets, which were exceedingly popular during the New Kingdom period. Featuring either one or two suspensions loops, the amulet would have been used as part of a broad collar necklace.
To find out more about Ancient Egyptian amulets please see our relevant blog post: Egyptian Amulets and their Meanings.