ClassificationsAncient Egyptian Art
Bes Amulet
CultureEgyptian
PeriodNew Kingdom
Date1539-1077 BCE
MediumSheet gold
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. William B. Astrop
Dimensions1 x 7/16 in. (2.5 x 1.1 cm)
Object number2004.062.001
Label TextBes is an apotropaic deity, meant to act as a protector or one who scares away negative elements. He is especially associated with childbirth and fertility and therefore occurs in domestic contexts as an element in amulets, jewelry, furniture, and in the form of small statues. Bes amulets are particularly common beginning in the 18th Dynasty and were most frequently made of faience, although some examples of amulets in semi-precious stones do exist.Exhibition HistoryFrom Pharaohs to Emperors: New Egyptian and Classical Antiquities at Emory, Michael C. Carlos Museum, January 14 - April 2, 2006
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, 2006 - January 2011
Monsters, Demons & Winged Beasts: Composite Creatures in the Ancient World, Michael C. Carlos Museum, February 5 - June 19, 2011
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, June 20, 2011 - Present
ProvenancePurchased by MCCM from Tom Swope, Hudson, New York.
Status
On viewCollections
- Ancient Egyptian, Nubian, and Near Eastern Art
3rd Century CE
late 1st Century BCE-2nd Century CE
1st-2nd Century CE
c. 353-332 BCE
late 19th-early 20th Century
late 19th Century
20th Century
722-332 BCE
722-332 BCE
800-600 BCE
722-30 BCE
