Pantheistic Bes

This ancient bronze statuette showsa composite deity with the attributesof various individual gods:

  • the face of the god Bes,
  • the twin plumes and the ram horns of Amun’s crown,
  • the head of an ibis crowned by the crescent and full moon of Thoth,
  • and the wings and falcon tail are related to the god Horus.

Surrounding the statuette are snakesand crocodiles.
There are many more aspects whichrefer to a multitude of divine aspects.
By incorporating these elements intoa single figure, it participated in – or internalised – the divine powers and protected the owner from many evils.

Bronze, H: 25.2 cm, Egypt, ca. 250-100 B.C., Walters Art Museum, 54.540. CC0 1.0

The Archaeology of Ancient Magic - Pantheistic Bes - Walters Art Museum, 54.540. CC0 1.0


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