The gate of the year

Stone relief from the Isis Temple on the island of Philae, representing Bes and dating to the Ptolemaic period (I century B.C.). Bes was a sort of minor god, represented as a dwarf with short limbs, a lion’s tail and a face almost always shown in front, with protruding tongue. In contrast with the elegance that distinguishes the Egyptian god and goddesses, Bes was represented as a kind of mask, with a frightening or grotesque appearance. Nevertheless, he was very popular and considered to bring good-luck and well-being. He protected the household, propitiated fertility, was a guardian of mothers in childbirth, and warded off the evil spirits from the families. During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods he was associated with the Isis cult (Remler 2010).

[Image: http://library.artstor.org/library/]




Wild Men

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Stone relief from the Isis Temple on the island of Philae, representing Bes and dating to the Ptolemaic period (I century B.C.). Bes was a sort of minor god, represented as a dwarf with short limbs, a lion’s tail and a face almost always shown in front, with protruding tongue. In contrast with the elegance that distinguishes the Egyptian god and goddesses, Bes was represented as a kind of mask, with a frightening or grotesque appearance. Nevertheless, he was very popular and considered to bring good-luck and well-being. He protected the household, propitiated fertility, was a guardian of mothers in childbirth, and warded off the evil spirits from the families. During the Ptolemaic and Roman periods he was associated with the Isis cult (Remler 2010). [Image: http://library.artstor.org/library/]