Collection
/
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Amulet in the Form of the God Bes

ca. 1390–1322 B.C.E.

1 of 10

Object Label

Bes was popularly worshipped as protector of women and infants, and as a facilitator of fertility. Shown standing on the head and shoulders of a woman with a baby, in Bes with Lute the god protects the mother and newborn by driving away potential harm with the sounds of his musical instrument. The large, round ears and facial folds seen on the Finial are reminiscent of a snarling lion and connect Bes with powerful felines. Because Bes was a multifaceted god who offered protection during such times of transition as pregnancy and birth, women wore his images, like the Amulet, while giving birth or during rites of passage.

Caption

Amulet in the Form of the God Bes, ca. 1390–1322 B.C.E.. Gold, 1 7/16 x 11/16 x 3/8 in. (3.6 x 1.7 x 1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.710E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.710E_front_PS4.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Amulet in the Form of the God Bes

Date

ca. 1390–1322 B.C.E.

Dynasty

Dynasty 18

Period

New Kingdom

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Gold

Classification

Accessory

Dimensions

1 7/16 x 11/16 x 3/8 in. (3.6 x 1.7 x 1 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

37.710E

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

Frequent Art Questions

  • Where is this from?

    It is said to come from Thebes. This an Egyptian amulet of the god Bes from the New Kingdom Period. A god of protection for women and infants, he would have been worn by a woman who was pregnant or giving birth.
    When is the New Kingdom period?
    The New Kingdom is considered 1550–1070 B.C. and thought to be the "Third Great Era" of Egyptian culture. At this time Egypt pushed their control into Nubia and the Near East. As a result, the New Kingdom pharaohs commanded unimaginable wealth, it was an amazingly prosperous time and amazing example of art come from this time.

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