Limestone Relief of Bes

Culture: Egyptian

Period: Roman Period, 1st-2nd century A.D.

Material: Limestone

Dimensions: 13.2 cm x 9.2 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 1064

Provenance: Private collection Gustave Mustaki, Alexandria, Egypt. This very prominent collection was exported with licence papers of the Egyptian government during mid-20th century. Today many objects are in the British Museum and the Getty Museum.

Condition: Intact

Description: Depiction of the dwarf protective god Bes with high feather crown, who – according to the Egyptian mythology – had the function to exterminate with his sword the dangerous animals of the desert. Amongst those especially serpents, this is why Bes is often depicted as a snake strangler or swallower. This limestone relief depicts the deity in a typical posture, frontal with raised sword, in his left hand holding the head of a snake, which tries to bite him in his stomach.