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Ancient Egypt · c. 3100 BCE – 400 CE

Bes & Taweret, guardians of the household

Meaning

Bes is a lion-maned dwarf god with a protruding tongue, feathered crown and bowed legs, and he is fierce, comic and protective. Taweret ('the great one') combines a pregnant hippopotamus, lion paws and a crocodile's back, joining the most dangerous animals of the Nile to defend the helpless.

Intent

They guarded the household at its most vulnerable moments: pregnancy, childbirth, infancy and sleep. Women and children wore them, they were carved on beds and headrests, and Bes danced and played music to frighten away snakes, scorpions and evil spirits. Taweret stood by the birthing brick.

Significance

Unlike the great state gods, Bes and Taweret were popular household deities worshipped without temples, so their amulets show everyday Egyptian religion. Bes was so loved that he travelled to Phoenicia, Cyprus, Carthage and Ibiza (whose name may derive from him) and became a Roman soldiers' charm.

History

Bes-like figures appear in the Middle Kingdom on ivory birth wands. Bes amulets become common in the New Kingdom and very popular in the Late and Graeco-Roman periods. Taweret amulets span the Middle Kingdom to the Ptolemaic period, and her image was even adopted in Minoan Crete as the 'Minoan genius'.

Making yours
Frontal Bes (1–6 cm) has a feather crown, protruding tongue and bowed legs. Taweret stands upright and in profile. Blue-green faience is standard; mould-press both halves and join.
Ancient Egypt: the tradition

Amulets appear in Egyptian graves before writing, in the Badarian and Naqada cultures of the fifth and fourth millennia BCE, as shells, stones and simple animal shapes. With the Old Kingdom the repertoire grew into a systematic vocabulary of hieroglyph signs, gods and animals, and by the New Kingdom the Book of the Dead prescribed which amulet went where on the mummy. Mass production in faience from open moulds put them within reach of almost everyone. The Late and Ptolemaic periods (664–30 BCE) are the peak of variety, when a single mummy might carry dozens. The tradition outlived the pharaohs, feeding Graeco-Roman magical gems, Coptic Christianity and, through Phoenician traders, the whole Mediterranean. Flinders Petrie's 1914 catalogue counted 275 types.

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Amulet of BesAmulet of BesEgypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Roman empire (30 BCE–395 CE) · 30 BCE–395 CEBes Head AmuletBes Head AmuletEgypt, Third Intermediate (1069–715 BCE) or later · 1069–715 BCEAmulet of TaweretAmulet of TaweretEgypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18 · 1540–1296 BCEAmulet of BesAmulet of BesEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 27–Second Persian period · 525–332 BCEAmulet of BesAmulet of BesEgypt · Late Period–Ptolemaic Period (664–30 BCE)Taweret amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic Period (600-100BC)Taweret amulet, green glazed composition, Egypt, Late or Ptolemaic Period (600-100BC)Egypt · 664 BC - 30 BCStatuette of a hippo goddess, probably TaweretStatuette of a hippo goddess, probably TaweretEgypt · Ptolemaic Period, 332–30 BCEStela with Taweret and Mut of IsheruStela with Taweret and Mut of IsheruUpper Egypt, Thebes · New Kingdom, ca. 1386–1347 BCEColossal head from a Bes-imageColossal head from a Bes-imageEastern Delta · Ptolemaic Period, 332–30 BCENecklace with the head of the Egyptian god BesNecklace with the head of the Egyptian god BesAchaemenid, Iran · Achaemenid, ca. 6th–4th century BCEAmulett med fødselsgudinnen Taweret [Statuett]Amulett med fødselsgudinnen Taweret [Statuett]EgyptBes amuletBes amuletEgyptian third intermediate period · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –664 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period or later DynaAmulet-pendant, of TaweretAmulet-pendant, of TaweretEgyptian late period · late 4th-3rd century BC (Late Period-early Greco-Roman)Amulet of TaweretAmulet of TaweretEgyptian New Kingdom · between 1450 and 1200 BC date QS:P571,-1500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-1450-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-1200-00-00T00:00:00Z/BesBesGreco-Roman Egypt · late 4th-early 3rd century BC (early Greco-Roman)Taweret amuletTaweret amuletEgyptian 18th dynasty · circa 1550 date QS:P571,+1550-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1295 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante la dea Tauret"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante la dea Tauret"between 722 and 30 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0030-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LateAmulet of Bes with tambourineAmulet of Bes with tambourinePalace of Amenhotep III · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1353 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Taweret amuletTaweret amuletEgyptian first intermediate period · circa 2110 date QS:P571,+2110-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2030 B.C. Period: Old Kingdom–First Intermediate Period Amulet depicting the god Bes title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the god Bes " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the god Bes " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il dio Bes"Amulet depicting the god Bes title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the god Bes " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the god Bes " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante il dio Bes"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatAmulet of TaweretAmulet of Taweret664–332 B.C. Period: Late Period Dynasty: Dynasty 26–30Amulet; TaweretAmulet; TaweretEgyptian 8th dynasty · 1932; Dynasty VIII-First Intermediate Period-Egyptian dynastic-EgyptianModel für ein Amulett in Gestalt des Gottes Bes, eine Pauke spielendModel für ein Amulett in Gestalt des Gottes Bes, eine Pauke spielendP 47.01 (Amarna)Jewellery amulet from EgyptJewellery amulet from EgyptEgyptThis object is a small blue faience representation of the god Bes, with a hole through the top for use as a peThis object is a small blue faience representation of the god Bes, with a hole through the top for use as a peVereinigtes Königreich (Entstehung)Jewellery, bes amulet from SudanJewellery, bes amulet from SudanSudanDwarf-God Bes amuletDwarf-God Bes amulet30 BC - AD 395Frammento di statuetta di bes in terracotta, I-III secolo caFrammento di statuetta di bes in terracotta, I-III secolo caRoman EgyptAmulet of BesAmulet of BesEgypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Roman empire (30 BCE–395 CE) · 30 BCE–395 CEChair or Bed Leg with the God BesChair or Bed Leg with the God BesEgypt, New Kingdom (1540–1069 BCE), Dynasty 18 · 1540–1296 BCECosmetic Jar in the Form of the God BesCosmetic Jar in the Form of the God BesEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 26 · 664–525 BCETaweret AmuletTaweret AmuletEgypt · New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Akhenaten (about 1352–1336 BCE)Bes amulet, white and brown glazed composition, Saft el-Henna, Egypt, Late Period, Dynasty Twenty-sixBes amulet, white and brown glazed composition, Saft el-Henna, Egypt, Late Period, Dynasty Twenty-sixEgypt · 664 BC - 525 BCAmulet of a Bes-imageAmulet of a Bes-imageEgypt · New Kingdom, ca. 1386–1347 BCEGuden Bes [Relieff]Guden Bes [Relieff]EgyptTaweret AmuletTaweret AmuletEgyptian third intermediate period · circa 1070 date QS:P571,+1070-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –664 B.C. Period: Third Intermediate Period or later DynaTaweretTaweretEgyptian late period · between 664 and 525 BC (Late Period; Saite)Taweret AmuletTaweret AmuletEgyptian New Kingdom · circa 1295 date QS:P571,+1295-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1070 B.C. Period: New Kingdom, Ramesside Dynasty: DynastTaweretTaweretGreco-Roman Egypt · 3 rd century BC date QS:P571,-250-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Greco-Roman)Amulet of a Bes-imageAmulet of a Bes-imageEgyptian 18th dynasty · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1352 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante la dea Tauret"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante la dea Tauret"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatBes AmuletBes AmuletPalace of Amenhotep III · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1353 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Taweret amuletTaweret amuletEgyptian first intermediate period · circa 2110 date QS:P571,+2110-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2030 B.C. Period: Old Kingdom–First Intermediate Period Nuovo regno-epoca tarda, amuleto con il demone bes in lapislazzuli (museo egizio, fi)Nuovo regno-epoca tarda, amuleto con il demone bes in lapislazzuli (museo egizio, fi)Amulet; TaweretAmulet; TaweretEgyptian 8th dynasty · 1932; Dynasty VIII-First Intermediate Period-Egyptian dynastic-EgyptianModel for an amulet in the shape of the God Bes in front viewModel for an amulet in the shape of the God Bes in front viewP 47.01 (Amarna)Jewellery, taweret amulet from EgyptJewellery, taweret amulet from EgyptEgyptpendant, amulet/Bespendant, amulet/BesVereinigtes Königreich (Entstehung)Bes, jewellery amulet from SudanBes, jewellery amulet from SudanSudanAmulet of TaweretAmulet of TaweretEgypt, Greco-Roman period (332 BCE–395 CE), Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE) · 305–30 BCEStatuette of BesStatuette of BesEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 27 or later · 525–30 BCEAmulet of TaweretAmulet of TaweretEgypt · Third Intermediate Period–Late Period (about 1069–332 BCE)Amulet pendant of TaweretAmulet pendant of TaweretEgypt · 1400BC-400BCLidded container in the shape of a Bes-imageLidded container in the shape of a Bes-imageEgypt · Late Period, 664–332 BCETaweretTaweretEgyptian third intermediate period · between 1070 and 730 BC (Third Intermediate)Taweret amuletTaweret amuletEgyptian late period · 525–332 B.C. Period: First Persian Period–Late Period Dynasty: Dynasty 27–30TaweretTaweretGreco-Roman Egypt · 3 rd century BC date QS:P571,-250-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Greco-Roman)Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante la dea Tauret"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting the goddess Taweret " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante la dea Tauret"between 722 and 332 BC date QS:P,-0500-00-00T00:00:00Z/6,P1319,-0722-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,-0332-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 LatTaweret AmuletTaweret AmuletPalace of Amenhotep III · circa 1390 date QS:P571,+1390-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1353 B.C. Period: New Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 18 Reign:Taweret amuletTaweret amuletEgyptian first intermediate period · circa 2110 date QS:P571,+2110-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –2030 B.C. Period: Old Kingdom–First Intermediate Period

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