Mould for an amulet of Bes


Accession Number
EC658
Current Location
House of Life (first floor), Drawers beneath stelae, Drawer 1
Object Type
Implements and utensils, Mould, Amulet mould
Period
New Kingdom
Dynasty
Eighteenth Dynasty
Material
Pottery
Measurements
Height: 71mm | Width: 58mm | Depth: 37mm
Number of Elements
1
Culture
Egyptian
Divine Name
Bes

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Description

A pottery mould of the head of Bes wearing a wide collar. This would have been used for making amulets from faience. Bes is often shown as a dwarf god, with a sticking out tongue and a leonine mane. He seems to have been a household deity particularly noted for protecting women and children. Bes heads seem to develop from the Third Intermediate Period.

Bibliography

Stevens, A. 2006 'Private Religion at Amarna', BAR International Series 1587, 31-34.

Other Identity
1823 (MacGregor number written on a white label in red ink)
Auction
Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge: 26 Jun–06 Jul 1922
Previous Owners
Rev. William MacGregor (1848–1937) | Sir Henry Solomon Wellcome (1853–1936)
Acquisition
Long-term loan, The Wellcome Trust (15 Feb 1971)
Last modified: 12 Jun 2022
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