This faience statuette represents the Egyptian dwarf god Bes. He is depicted with lion ears, tail and mane and he wears a crown of feathers. He has a mask-like face with the tongue sticking out. A hook on the back of the figure indicates that it was meant to be hung up. Bes is often depicted holding knives or swords in his hands, and in a somewhat merrier version, as a musician with a tambourine or a lyre. Despite his ferocious looks he was a good, friendly and protective god especially of (pregnant) women and children. A large statue of Bes has been found in the temple of Hathor in Dendera, where it was likely placed in one of the temple’s birth houses, where the birth of the god and the king were celebrated. However, Bes was primarily a domestic god and thus no temples were dedicated to him. On the other hand, many furniture, mirrors and cosmetic containers were decorated with pictures of Bes and tattoos of him have even been found on the inside of females’ thighs. Bes was also very popular in the form of amulets as an example (H72) in Thorvaldsen’s collection nicely demonstrates.
