amulet;
figure
- Description
-
Mould-made amuletic figure in glazed composition; double-sided represention of the dwarf leonine god Bes, featured naked, in a squatting position on a small rectangular base; relatively well modelled face and body; turquoise glaze well preserved; top of head broken off and part of base chipped.
- Production date
- 664 BC - 525 BC (possibly)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 3.30 centimetres
-
Width: 1.80 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- According to the Egypt Exploration Fund list, the Redpath Museum received in 1887 several "paste objects" from the Scarab Factory, along with two moulds. This amulet might come from such a context.
As other deities involved in the protection of childhood and pregnancy, such as Taweret and Pataikos, Bes is very popular among Naukratis amulets (Masson forthcoming). His amulets were similarly widespread across Egypt in the later Dynastic period (Andrews 1994, 40) and in the Mediterranean world, (especially in the Late-early Ptolemaic periods: Herrmann et al. 2010, 69).
On amulets of Bes in general see: Andrews 1994, 38-40; Herrmann et al. 2010, 69-73 (type 34).
Andrews, C. 1994, Amulets of Ancient Egypt, London.
Herrmann, C., Staubli, T., Berger-Lober, S., Keel, O., Schönbächler, G. 2010, 1001 Amulett : altägyptischer Zauber, monotheisierte Talismane, säkulare Magie, Bibel+Orient-Museum, Liebefeld, Stuttgart.
Masson, A. forthcoming, ‘Naukratis: Egyptian offerings in context’, in M. Bergeron and A. Masson (eds.), Naukratis in Context II: Cults, Sanctuaries and Offerings. Proceedings of the Second Naukratis Project Workshop held at The British Museum, 22nd-23rd June 2013.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Rather fair (incomplete)
- Department
- External
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 2501.02 (Accession Number)
