The Study Of Bes In Ancient Egypt

Bes was an ancient Egyptian god who,unlike the common Egyptian gods,was an odd-looking dwarf god,usually depicted with a broad muscular face,surrounded by a lion's mane and ears,his tongue protruding from his mouth,and wearing a headwear of feathers.The body is a bandy-legged dwarf with a stout torso,a bulging belly,protruding hips,a lion's tail,and a leopard skin or short skirt.His duty was to protect the family,especially mothers and children during childbirth,and to be the guardian of sleep and death.Bes also played musical instruments and performed dances,which were popular among the common people.In the later period,the image of the Bes was integrated with other elements,especially during the reign of the Achaemenid Empire,which realized the iranianization of the Bes,and had an important influence on the cultural interaction between the ancient near east,especially Egypt and west Asia.The article is divided into four parts:The first part discuss the origin of the Bes.The name of the Bes fluctuated widely,and it was not until the 1860 s that "Bes" became a commonly accepted term among scholars.The origin of the Bes is controversial because it appears to be different from the common Egyptian gods,and is now widely believed to have come from the native Egyptian gods.Bes was a fierce-looking dwarf god whose image changed with the development of Egyptian history.The second part discusses the function of Bes.It is best known for protecting the family,especially the mother and child during childbirth;Bes also played musical instruments and performed dances to entertain people;It is also the guardian of sleep and death;In addition,it protects soldiers on the battlefield,and according to the myths and records related to drinking of the Bes,it is also proved to have some connection with alcohol.The third part discusses the development of Bes.In terms of image,with the development of Egyptian history,the appearance of the Bes also changed significantly,especially during the New Kingdom period,when the slender body became a heavy dwarf image.In posture and attributes,costumes and physical characteristics and other aspects have taken place to adapt to the changes of The Times.The fourth part discusses the external communication of Bes.Mainly in 525 BC,after Egypt was conquered by Persia,the Bes was widely spread and welcomed in the Achemenid empire,and in the process of communication between different peoples into the local culture,gradually iranianization.