Bes with Worshiper

Unknown

664–332 BC · Cupreous metal · Egyptian Art

Bes was worshipped and invoked by ordinary Egyptians as a protector. His usual depiction, as a grotesque dwarf with a lion's ears and mane, was thought to deter the approach of the malevolent forces believed to cause illness. His image here appears in a bronze statuette made for the unnamed man shown worshipping the god. The lyre held by Bes may reflect his power to calm angry spirits.

Artist

Unknown

Date

664–332 BC

Medium

Cupreous metal

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Darius Ogden Mills, 1904