Object of the Month - February 2019

Bes

Stone

c. 12th century - 11th century BCE

S 323

Amulets or small stelae in the form of Bes, the lion-maned spirit, a protective deity, were kept in the tombs to give special protection to the mummies. Bes was an assistant of the hippopotamus goddess of childbirth, Taweret and scared away evil demons at the moment of birth and hence was associated with new life.