The strange way in which BES is represented, full-face instead of in profile, has lead some scholars to think that BES was of Mesopotamian or of African origin. The epithets "Lord of Punt" and "Lord of Nubia" also seem to point in that direction. On the other hand, BES is known to the Egyptians from the Old Kingdom onwards, or before. There are no representations of or references to BES of non-Egyptian origin found outside Egypt. BES may owe the epithet "Lord of Punt" to his dwarf-like figure: Punt, a legendary African society, is thought to have been populated by pygmies.
Previous to being given the name 'BES', he was known as the demonic 'Aha' ('fighter') because of his ferocity - he was thought to have been able to strangle bears, lions, antelopes and snakes with his bare hands. In this role, despite being thought of as a demon, he was seen as a supporter of Ra, helping to defeat his serpent enemies.
On some occasions, he was represented as a lion or armed with swords, spears and maces, symbolizing his power and fierceness. In the mamisi of the temples of the Greek-Roman era, he is often shown making music: playing the harp, a flute or a tambourine. These musical instruments were not only necessary to celebrate the birth of the child-god in the temple, but also to scare away the demons and monsters that would do harm to the newly born.
Originally a deity of protection of the pharaoh, he became a popular god of the every day Egyptian people, and was often depicted on household items such as beds, headrests, chairs, mirrors and ointment pots and even painted on the walls of the house. He was also depicted on various weapons, such as daggers, due to his fighter aspect, and often depicted on 'magic wands' that the Egyptian magicians used for their spells or on an amulet to ward off evil. His use as a god of protection for the daily people came to be a sign of joy and good humour, because he drove away ill humour and evil. He was thought to also be able to protect people from dangerous creatures of all types, especially when he was connected with the child Horus in the story of his growing up in the Delta area of Egypt.
BES
You protect me
against all the
wild beasts of
the desert,
all the crocodiles
of the river, all
the snakes and
scorpions, all the
insects that bite
with their mandibles
and sting with their
tail, all the kinds of
reptiles that attack
in their caves.
BES statuette in solid 18ct Gold, inset with a 0.3ct emerald cut Diamond designed by Neil Montgomery and crafted by Jarred.
