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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Column of Bes

This is part of a limestone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“ˆ™π“Œ‰ column that is representative of the god π“ŠΉ Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ and it is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (332-31 B.C.E.).

Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was worshipped as the protector π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ of households 𓉐𓏺, mothers 𓅐𓏏𓁐π“ͺ, children π“π“‡Œπ“€•π“ͺ, and even childbirth. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ also represented everything good, and was the enemy of anything evil. Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ is also thought to protect π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ people against sickness. Cups were fashioned in Bes’ π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ likeness and people thought if they drank from the cup, Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ would heal them! Small statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ and amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ of Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ were also placed in bedrooms as a form of protection.

Fun fact: the Spanish island of Ibiza is thought to be named after Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ! Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ was worshipped by the Phoenicians (whose pantheon mixed with the Egyptians) and Phoenician settlers brought their worship of Bes π“ƒ€π“‹΄π“„œ with them to Ibiza when it was settled. Ibiza actually means β€œIsland of Bes.”