Bes
Bes In Egyptian mythology, a patron god of art, music, and childbirth as well as a god of war and a strangler of antelopes, bears, lions, and serpents; derived from a lion deity. He was a kind of divine exorcist, driving away evil by dancing and banging a drum or tambourine. The dual nature of Bes in Egyptian belief is reflected in the various images of the god.
Usually he is portrayed as a dwarf with a huge bearded head, protruding tongue, flat nose, shaggy eyebrows and hair, large projecting ears, long thick arms, and bowed legs. Around his body he wears an animal skin whose tail hangs down, usually touching the ground behind him. On his head he wears a tiara of feathers, which suggests his primitive nature. In later Egyptian art, however, Bes is given a handsome body because he absorbed the character of the sun god and became identified with Horus the Child as well as Ra and Temu.
As Horus he wore a lock of hair on the right side of his head, which is the symbol of youth. All of these images suggest the various phases of the sun during the day. Bes was frequently portrayed on steles, vases, and amulets, often in ithyphallic form. His image was hung over headrests as a charm to keep away evil spirits. His female counterpart was Beset.
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow – Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante
