Bes facts for kids
Bes was an important god in ancient Egypt. He was known for protecting pregnant women, new babies, and families. He looked like a dwarf wearing a lion's skin. Bes was different from many other Egyptian gods because he looked more like gods found in other parts of Africa.
People believed Bes would dance around a room, shaking his rattle and yelling loudly. He did this to scare away bad spirits during birth. These spirits might try to harm the baby. After a baby was born, Bes was thought to stay nearby. If a baby laughed or smiled for no reason, Egyptians believed Bes was in the room, making funny faces to make them happy.
His name might come from a Nubian word for cat, besa, which means protector. Egyptians kept cats to protect against snakes and creatures like mice that could ruin food. Because of this, Bes became a god people wanted to worship in Egypt.
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Who Was Bes?
Bes was a special god who protected homes and families. He kept children safe from dangers like snakes and scorpions. Like the hippopotamus god Tawaret, Bes also protected women during childbirth. Egyptians often put statues of Bes in their homes or carvings above their beds. They believed he would protect them from bad dreams.
Bes was also thought to bring good luck and good health to those who honored him. This household god was also linked to music, dance, and fun.
How Bes Was Worshipped
People kept pictures and statues of Bes in their homes. This was to protect them from evil. Because of his job as a protector, Bes was shown differently from other gods. Most gods were shown from the side (in profile). But Bes was always shown facing forward (in portrait). Sometimes, he even wore a soldier's tunic, looking ready to fight any evil that came near.
In the New Kingdom of Egypt, some people even had tattoos of Bes. These tattoos were often found on the legs of dancers, musicians, and servant girls.
Like many Egyptian gods, the worship of Bes spread to other countries. He was very popular with the Phoenicians and the ancient people of Cyprus.
What Bes Looked Like
Bes was always shown facing forward, not from the side like other gods. He was a dwarf with bowed legs and a big belly. He wore an animal skin and a headdress made of feathers. Often, he was shown holding a weapon or playing a musical instrument while hopping around. Bes also had a tail and a lion's mane, which made him look even more unique. With his tongue sticking out or teeth bared, this god was a common sight in every Egyptian home.
The Story of Bes
Bes started as several different spirits. Over time, these spirits combined to form a single god who looked like a rearing lion. His power grew stronger from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom. At first, he protected only the pharaoh (the king of Egypt). But later, ordinary people also began to worship him.
In the New Kingdom, a female version of Bes, called Beset, also appeared. Items showing Bes were found in many places. These included parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, modern Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, and Assyria. This shows that Bes was very popular across the Middle East. The fact that Bes was always shown facing forward suggests he might have originally come from Africa.
Images for kids
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Egyptian composite capital with a Bes capital above it, in the Dendera Temple complex (Egypt)
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Amulet of Bes; 1070–712 BC; faience; height: 3.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City)
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Cypriot statuette of Bes; late 6th – early 5th century BC; limestone; overall: 14 × 8.3 × 7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Cosmetic container; 525–404 BC; faience; height: 9.2 cm, width: 4.4 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Stela of Bes; 4th century BC-1st century AD; painted limestone; height: 38.7 cm, width: 17.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Bell in the form of Bes; 332-30 BC; cupreous metal; height: 6.3 cm, diameter: 4.6 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Fresco from the Temple of Isis in Pompeii depicting Bes, in the Naples National Archaeological Museum (Italy)
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See also
In Spanish: Bes para niños
