Early Bes

Oct 16, 2026 | Amulets of goddesses, gods, and sacred animals, Human-form gods

Early representation of Bes on an ivory amuletic wand

Bes amulets are extremely common. In early times the god had no headdress, but was already a naked dwarf with banded legs and sometimes a lion tail1

Early representation of Bes on an ivory amuletic wand

Early representation of Bes on an ivory amuletic wand Middle Kingdom Dynasty 12 © The Trustees of the British Museum #EA18175

Gold early Bes

Gold H 1.5 Dynasty 12-early New Kingdom MET #22.1.59

Green glaze early Bes with suspension loop

Green glaze with suspension loop on the back H 1.4, W 0.8 Second Intermediate Period © 2009 Musée du Louvre/Christian Décamps #N 4233

Reference

1None, Unpublished observation and amulets