Egyptian God Bes: The Protector God of Ancient Egypt & Egyptian God of Childbirth, Merriment& Music
Egyptian god Bes is an ancient Egyptian deity of the Kushite, Nubian or Nehesi C-Group culture origin. It was worshipped as a protector of households and, in particular, of mothers, children, and childbirth. Bes later came to be regarded as the defender of everything good and the enemy of all that is bad. According to Donald Mackenzie in 1907, Bes may have been a Middle Kingdom import from Nubia and his cult did not become widespread until the beginning of the New Kingdom, but more recently, several Bes-like figurines have been found in deposits from the Naqada period of pre-dynastic Egypt, like the thirteen figurines found at Tell el-Farkha.
Worship of the Egyptian god 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. None was as unique or beloved as Bes among the many gods of ancient Egypt. Unlike the grand deities who ruled the heavens and underworld, Bes was a small, dwarf-like figure who lived among the people. He protected homes, mothers, and children, scared away evil spirits, and brought laughter and joy through music and dance.
Egyptian god Bes
1. The Origins of the Egyptian god Bes
People in Upper Egypt started venerating Bes long before people in Lower Egypt, indicating a Nubian origin. The word “bes” means “cat” in Nubian. This suggests a possible Nubian or southern origin of Bes, who was regularly depicted with feline features.
Bes’s Sub saharan features also indicate a Kushite or C group origin, as well as The late introduction into egypt during the middle kingdom, The feathered cown was also a common dress in ancient Kush that bes is commonly depicted with, It’s also possible that the name Bes originated from one of two hieroglyphs: “bs”, meaning “flame”, possibly in connection to Re, meaning “to be initiated” or “to introduce” possibly in reference to masks apparently used in the cult of the god.
Egyptian god Bes is first mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, but seems to have been best known and most widely worshipped in the Middle Kingdom. Evidence of Bes worship in some capacity exists in Coptic Egypt, with the latest evidence being a jug depicting Bes found in Tell Edfu dating to the 10th century CE.
2. The Worship of the Egyptian god Bes
Egyptian god Bes was a household protector and became responsible throughout ancient Egyptian history such various 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 god
Images of the deity, quite different from those of the other gods, were kept in homes. Normally, Egyptian gods were shown in profile, but instead, Bes appeared in a full face portrait, ithyphallic, and sometimes in a soldier’s tunic, to appear ready to launch an attack on any approaching evil.
He scared away demons from houses, so his statue was put up as a protector. Since he drove off evil, Bes also came to symbolise the good things in life, music, dance, and sexual pleasure. In the Middle Kingdom, Bes is depicted on a variety of objects, including masks, amulets, infant feeding bottles, and magic knives. In the New Kingdom, tattoos of Bes could be found on the thighs of dancers, musicians and servant girls.
Later, in the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian history, chambers were constructed at Saqqara, painted with images of Bes and his female counterpart Beset. It was thought by Egyptologists to have been for the purpose of curing fertility problems or general healing rituals.
Like many Egyptian gods, the worship of Bes or Beset was exported overseas. While the female variant had been more popular in Minoan Crete, the male version would prove popular with the Phoenicians and the ancient Cypriots.
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. Images of Bes have been found at the Persian capital of Susa, and as far away as central Asia. Over time, the image of Bes became more Persian in style, as he was depicted wearing Persian clothes and a headdress.
3. Symbols of the Egyptian god Bes
His symbols included:
The lion’s mane, which represents strength and bravery.
Musical instruments, which symbolise joy and festivity.
Knives or swords were used to scare away demons.
The feathered headdress represents divinity and power.
Bronze statue of Bes, Egypt
Many Egyptians wore Bes amulets not just for protection but also as a charm for good fortune. His image even appeared on cosmetic items like mirrors and ointment jars, since he was believed to ward off the “evil eye” that could cause illness or bad luck.
4. Iconography of the Egyptian god Bes
- Figurines
Modern scholars such as James Romano (Egyptologist and former Curator of Egyptian Art at the Brooklyn Museum) claim that in its earliest inception, Bes was a representation of a lion rearing up on its hind legs. After the Third Intermediate Period, Bes can be found on a variety of household objects like furniture, toiletries, infant feeding bottles, game pieces, and more, beginning in the Middle Kingdom.
Pottery vessel. Applique face of god Bes on the surface
- Tattoos
As mentioned above, the Egyptian god Bes is also seen depicted in tattoos. Wall art from the 19th Dynasty found at the workman’s village of Deir El-Medina depicts a tattoo of a dancing Bes on the thigh of a female musician playing her instrument.
- Jugs
ugs, vases, and other storage containers represent the majority of pottery containing Bes iconography. The depiction of an anthropomorphic head on jugs is a style predominantly found in West Asian pottery, suggesting that there may be influence from the Syro-Palestinian region. Further supporting the possibility of West Asian influence is tomb 1300 of the Mayana cemetery near Sedment, dating from the Second Intermediate Period, that contains both vases depicting Bes and five small faience jugs, almost certainly of Palestinian origin. This, along with other objects likely of West Asian origin, indicates that the occupant likely maintained contact with Palestine, and as such, the West Asian style Bes jug may have been manufactured there.
Pottery Jug Depicting Egyptian God Bes
Painted storage jars depicting the Egyptian god Bes have also been found in the site of Amarna, dating to the late 18th Dynasty, in addition to a multitude of jars found in Deir el-Medina. In addition to these jars, as well as aforementioned depictions on bedroom paraphernalia, faience baby bottles have been found in el-Lisht, further showing Bes as a protector of children.
Traces of Peganum harmala and Nimphaea nouchali var. caerulea were identified in an Egyptian ritual Bes-vase, of the 2nd century BCE.
5. Egyptian god Bes and Music: The Joyful and Dancer Protector
Egyptian god Bes also liked to practise the art of music and dance, taking on a more playful posture with active movement and tongue stuck out. His favourite instruments included the tambourine, for its loud and rhythmic quality.
While Bes the Fighter dealt with threats to the physical body, Bes the Dancer dealt with threats to the heart, which the Egyptians believed was the centre of all thought and emotion. By keeping the heart joyful and content through dance, Bes warded off spirits who might otherwise bring malice or sorrow. This image of a mould shows a popular form of amulet, possibly worn by performers who wished to emulate Bes’ playfulness.
Dance and music were important functions of both festivals and celebrations, but also within the daily rituals of palaces and temples, for even the hearts of both pharaohs and gods needed protecting. This may explain why, throughout Egyptian history, we find so many examples of court and temple dancers who were born with dwarfism or had short stature.
6. Bes and Taweret: A Divine Partnership
Bes was often depicted with Taweret, who was another protective deity with a hippopotamus body and lion features. Together, they formed a powerful pair in Egyptian households. While Taweret watched over pregnant women, Bes drove away evil spirits that might harm the mother or baby.
Taweret god
Their partnership symbolised the perfect balance of protection and nurturing. Taweret provided maternal strength, and Bes added bravery and laughter to daily life. Their combined images were common in domestic amulets and on household walls.
