46 P.

Charvd,t: Bes Jtrg ZAS tll lltlr[y1

Pnrn CHenvir*

The Bes Jug

Its Origin and Development

in Egl'pt

It is the aim of this paper to discuss the origin and development of a special Egyptian potterr-
shape - jog bearing the image of the face of the god ISesupon its bodr-. linon'n colnlnonly under
the name "Bes jrg" (furthermore BJ).
Let us make a few general notes uporr the god Res first. He finds first nrention in the Pyrapid
Texts (Bruydre 1939, 93), but his general characteristics are better knou'n cluring the Middle
K ingdom. In th e te x ts , h e i s g i v e n the epi thet " the w arri or" (B onnet 19;2. 1fl 3]r, C hodZai
1960, 252). n'rom this, we mav derive his role as a protector of small children: as such, he is fre-
quently figured on the magical ivory rvands from the Middle Kingdom (e. g. Shorter 1932 with
an inscription). This aspect of Bes is stressedby a depiction of his on a small lrlue frriericepot fronr
Lisht (Huyes 1953, 47), most probablv used for feeding liquids to small chilclren (rvith a special
long and narrow spout). Ilere, his pugnacious nature is borne out bv delrictions of long knives,
intermixed into the decoration. Another aspect of this ger-reralcharacter of Res is put forrvard
on a leather wrist-protection from the grave of an archer of the Pan-grave culture (ISrunton
1 9 3 7 , 1 2 8 , p l . L X X V : 4 9 , L X X I V : 1 c ) . T h e m o r e l u x u r i o u s p r o d u c t s o f t h e P a r r - g r a \ - ec u l t u r e
ar e s uppo s e dto h a v e a M i d d l e Ki n g d o m ori gi n (P etri e 1939,145f.). If, then, theP an-gra\:e cu lt ur e
representsthe Nubian lnercenariesof Thetran rulers (as suggestedb1- Hu)-es 1959, 39-42), it may'
be that a professional warrior sought pagical protection and support bv rvearing an ilnage of the
"heavenly warrior" - the god Res. The possilrilit)' of the existelrce of a female counterpart to
Bes during the Middle Kingdom, suggested try a statuette from Kahun clepicting a demon with
t he head o f a l i o n (a ma s k ? ) a n d a tai l ed body of a naked rvol nan (P etri e 1890, 30, pl . V III) was
rejected lately, the statuette being interpreted as possiblr. Strchrnet (\Vard 1972, I51).
During the Nerv Kingdom, the nature of Res shou's a profound change. His pugnacious aspect
diminished sharply, being restricted to a role of an undern'orld clemon arlned r,vith a knife (Ilruy-
dre 1939, 94 - depiction frorn the Book of the Dead). Bes is now first and foremost the god of
sensual pleasures and all things in connection rvith them: at Deir el-Medineh, his image decorated
the wooden ( ?) bed legs (on drarvings from ostraca) and the sides of actual sleeping platforms
( B r uy dr e 1 9 3 9 , 6 0 n . l ), h e i s fi g u red on toi l et arti cl es, on scenesdepi cti ng the l adi es' toi let t e,
birth and suckling of a child, mtisic and dance. \\re even see his image (tattooed?) or-rthings of
" danc ing-g i rl s " (Va n d i e r d ' Ab b a d i e 193S ). It may. be that thi s aspect of B es i s expressed}x'
the name h3tj, which he bears as a spirit of music and dance subordinated to the goddess Hathor
(Pi an k o f f 1937-8, 31). We knorv neither the reason for this change of the god's nature nor the origin
of his new character; wa,s it inherent to Bes during the Middle Kingdom or is the Nerv Kingdop
Bes amalgamated with solne other deity ?
Except the BJ's, Egypt has vielded a few other depictions of Bes on potterv. The Middle King-
dom ( ?) ostra c o nfro m L a h u n s h o w s h i m en face, hol di ng a snake i n each hand (P etri e 1923, 14, pl.
LXIX: 11, as on the lnagical ivorv rvands). More Nerv Kingdom faience vesselsLrearthe image of
Bes: apilgrimflaskfromGurob(Petrie1891,17pl.XVII:9)withawingedBesholdingsacredsym-
bols, and a curious vase in forrn of a srluatting woman with a Bes-headed lion (Catalogue Price
149 No. 1469). Bxcept that, a potterv dish from Deir el-Medineh bears the depiction of three

x P. Charvril., O z r t . h o s l o r - a k A c u , k ' r r r v o f S c i t ' n t ' t ' s , I . t r s t i l t r 1 eo f A l c h a c o i o g l ' , Praha/dSSn.

z A s 1 0 7( 1 9 8 0 ) P. Cha,rvd,t: Bes Jug 1i

figures of Bes dancing; it seems that it has sorne connections with the ostraca drawings (Vandier
d ' A b b a d i e 1 9 4 6 ,1 0 2 ,1 0 5 ,f i g . a 7 ) .
So far, we have ascertained that the depiction of hurnan head on pottery, which is the basic
feature of the BJ's. is traceable in Egypt at least from the Amratian age (Charvri,t L974,99-105)
and that durilg tlie first half of the XVIIIIh dynasty, which is the age immediately preceding
the oldest BJ's, it n'as a verv frequent pottery decoration. The shape of the oldest BJ's - a bag-
shapecl r-essels-ith globularl-v bulglng neck - is, again, Egyptian in origin, datable to the Second
I nt er m ec liate P e ri o d a n d th e b e g i n n i n g of the l {ew K i ngdom (e.g.B runton 1930 pl . X V III:
61e.C'arter-Carrlarvon1912pl.XXII:1). I t w o u l d s e e l n , t h e n , q u i t e n a t u r a l t o c redittheEgyp-
tian potter of the first half of the XVIIIth dynasty (which is the period of great changes in pottery,
cliscardipg old traditions and creating new ones from domestic and imported t;rpes) with the author-
ship of the BJ. It is, however, necessarl- to ponder upon certain facts which might possibly point
to the Asian regions &s & source of inspiration for the BJ. X'irst, we rnust note the extraordinary
interest which ancient Near Bastern potters took in depicting human head on pottery. We rnay
lis t ex am ple s fro m P a l e s ti n e (J e ri c h o - H rouda 1958, 15 pl .6: 13, D uR y 1969, 2S l ,Lachi sh -
T uf nell et a l . 1 9 5 8 ,8 9 p l . 4 8 : 5 ,7 -9 , p l . 8 6: 1005,N ahari yeh - D othan 1956,22,monkey moti ve ) ,
f r o m c o a s t a l S y r i a ( U g a r i t - S c h a e f f e r - C h e n e t 1 9 4 9 ,1 9 1 f l i g . 7 7 : 8 , 1 9 0 p I . X X X I V : 1 , B y b l o s -
K lengel 19 6 7 , 3 2 ), fro m i n l a n d Sy ri a ( Tel l B rak - H rouda 1958, 15 pl . 6: 12) and even fro m
Anatolia (Boghazkdi - Bittel 1936, 16-17 fig. 11). Here, we must direct our attention to an Egyp-
tian-clad figure-vase frorn tomb 1300 of the Mayana cemetery at Sedment (Petrie 1924, 18f.,
pl. XLI: 10). This v&se from the Second Intermediate Period is suspected by Petrie to be of un-
Egyptian character, and the contents of the tomb make this {ully probable. The five small faience
juglets are almost identical with Palestinian pieces (Tuf nell et al. 1958, 83, pl. 26: l2-I7) and the
remains of ivory box-inlavs in the shape of birds find their parallels at Gezer (Junker 1921,119).
Of extreme interest in this context is the ivory statuette of Bes from this tomb; iconographically,
we are dealing with a Middle Kingdom type holding snakes in each hand. The owner of this tomb
maintained contacts with Palestine (at least with sorne probability) and there is a possibility that
the foreign-looking figure vase was ma,nufactured in Asia under Egyptian influence, pa,rticularly
strong in the Palestinian region. Equally, mention has to be made about the rhytons in shape
of fernale head, produced somewhere in the Hurrian region of North Syria and found throughout
the eastern Mediterranean (Assur, Tell Brak, Jericho, Enkomi on the Cyprus, Tell Abu Hawam
in P ales t ine - C u l l i c a n l g 7 l , T u c h e l t 1962,56). These rhytons w ere know n i n E gypt ei ther
as imports from Asia (Culican lg7I,86f.) or even as dolnestic imitations of these ipported pieces
(as a pottery head from the Egyptian Museum collection, No.36 605). This, again, might have exer-
cised some influence on the Egvptian variety of pottery decorated with the motive of human head.
n'urthermore, we must note that it is precisely at the beginning of the New Kingdosn that the
iconography of Bes figures rnotives apparently of Syrian origin. Some scarabs depict the god
drinking from a vessel by means of a rectangularly bent tube (Grenf ell 1902, 32 fig.38-9, Van-
d.ier d'Abbadie t946, 76-7, 40). This was a Syrian custoyn, &s we know from a stela relief
showing a Syrian rnercenary drinking in exactly identical rnanner (Vandier d'Abbadie 1946
fig. 39). On some o{ the Syrian cylinder seals frorn the first half of the 2nd millenrriurn BC a small
crouching figure with a monkey may be seen among other figures (Grenfell 1902, 29-30). Let
us return, however, to the depiction of the Syrian mercena,ry on his stela; his face shows features
similar to the faces of Syrian enemies crushed under the wheels of the triumphant pharao's chariot
( T h u t m o s eI V - C a r t e r - N e w b e r r y 1 9 0 4 ,p l . X f i g . 3 , X I : 5 , X I I : 7 , 1 0 , 1 2 - 1 4 , A m e n h o t e p
[tI - Petrie 1897, 10). Now it is to the time of Amenhotep III the earliest BJ belongs (Rowe 1940,
5? note 2, pI.XLVIA: 3,4), and this piece - and that cannot possibly be dismissed as pure chance -
was found in the Egyptian temple of Beth-Shan in Palestine and it q,howsthe same "Syrian" facial
features again. ft may be that originally, the face on the jug did not belong to Bes but to a typical
Syrian personage (according to the principles of Egyptian art) and that it was located in the temple
as visible expression of Syria's subjugation to Egypt. In Egypt, we know whole v&ses shaped
 P. Charr,'d,t:BesJug z A S 1 0 7( 1 9 8 0 )
48

(Naville 1899, 2r5ff.., Bruydre

into the figures of captives with bound hands, both as actual finds
the latter we know that these
1937, 110ff., fig,4T) and. representations on the reliefs, and" from
gods as their "share of bootv"
vessels - together with the BJ's - were dedicated to Egyptian
No. 127). The idea of a Syrian captive's face
from the conquered.land (Lepsius, Denkmd,ler Irr
Bes's face from Sedment
as a prototype to the BJ finds support in a flat flask d.ecorated with
robust "syrian"
(petrie lg24 pl. XL.. 3,4, petrie tgz4lrr,25 pl. XL: 41). r{ere, again, the
flaskpointsto Syriamore
facial features a,represent, and moreover, the form of the quadrangular
is "marked." as to its country of origin (or, for that
than to Egypt. It may be that the flask
a typical Syrian. From all this, it may be sur-
matter, the contents of the flask) with a lace of
depiction of a Syrian captive on
mised that the earliest BJ's might have been in{luenced by the
according to which the BJ's
pots d.ed.icatedin temple., from which the idea might have sprung
is suggested by the fact that the
were a typical prod"ucl of S;rria. The existence of such an id.ea
rrr No. 127, from the
earliest ."pr"r".rtation of the BJ in Egyptian art (L"psius, Denkmd,ler
the land o{ Reten (for the reading of the
temple of Sethi I at Karnak) shows it as booty from
Institute of Eg-vpt-
hieroglyphic text, my thanks are d.ue to Dr. M. Verner of the Czechoslovak
ology ) .
explained according to the
It seems, then, that most probably the origin of the BJ could be
namely that the Egyptian craftsmen
theory put forward by w. Helck (Hel ck 1962, 429-490),
products or added foreign elements
manufactured. on certain occasions imitations of foreign
by Asian pottery, the Egyp-
to their own products. The BJ may testify for this very well: inspired
added an Eg;rptian shape of
tjans renewed their old idea of dlpicting human head on pottery,
(accord-ingto their own art), first only to
vessel and produced a jug with treaa of the S1'rian foe
&s well'
dedicate it in temples, u,ft"r*urd.s possibly to other, secular uses
d'omestic; Egyptian origin of the BJ'
We must not forget the evid,"n." suggesting a purely
of demons from Middle Kingdom
Von Bissing (von Rissing 1902, p. XI) noted that the figures
(among them, of course, the god
magical ivory wand.s reappear in the New Kingd.om kohl-pots
of Amenhotep IIIrd's age (Hayes
Bes). The four stone vessels belonging possiblv to a sculptor
of animals occurring among these dernons and
1gbg, 276, fig.169) are d.ecoratea witn the heads
been another sources of inspiration
one of them bears the head of the gocl Res. This might have
for the BJ's.
the time of Amenhotep III, the
However the real origin of the BJ may have looked. like, from
rlrs reign is probably the
series of preserved examples continues almost ceaselessly.Amenhotep
t g 2 7 , 1 5 , p l. XXVII:2,pL' XXXIX:
time of origin of a BJ frorn Gurob (Brunton-Engelbach
g2y). Huge painted storage jars from el-Amarnafrequently bear the image of Bes's head or even
l g2g, pl ' X LV : 4 ) ' The
whole f i g u re o f Be s i n a l o tu s m a rsh (P etri e 1894, 30, P eet-W ool l ey
jarwithtwominiature
tomb of Tutankhamon yieldecl, arnong rnany others, an alabastercosmetic
instead.of capitals (E dwards 1973No. a)' Numerous
lotus colurnnsontheexterior, having Bes's heads
(B ruydre 1937, 111-116, fi g. 48-49, B ruvdr e
B J , s ha v e b e e n e x c a v a te d .a t D e i r el -Medi neh
149 fi g' 127)' H ere' an ev olut ion
1939, 1 0 2 fi g . 3 5 , B ru y d re 1 9 5 3 , 57-8 fi g. 12, N agel 1938,
Period BJ's: the face, originally
takes place anticipating many of the typical features of the Late
is depicted rnore and. more in a linear fashion, by
rnod.elled.frorn the clay three-dimensionally,
from the globularly swelled neck, where it
rnea,ns of incisions and. stamping, and it descends
was originally located., d.own l"tl the bod.y of the vessel. The facial expression varies incessantly,
his tongue stuck out from the mouth, a
we rnay see a Bes with a full beard or beardless, or with
original robust facial features change into
feature which d.isappears later on. It is here that the
LuckilY, we possess some data
an almost Negroii. mask which led. astray so rnany specialists.
(B ruydre 1937,111-116, B r uydr e
f r op D e i r e t-u l d i n e h a s to th e u s e of the N ew J(i ngdom B J' s
the village, just a small fraction
1g3g, g3-10s). An overwhelrqing majority of finds comes from
of Bes-decorated objects in the houses
from graves. Taking into accJu.rt ttr" frequent presence
{or libations during the domestic
of the village, Bruydre thinks that the BJ's might have been used
of some pieces (Bruydre 1937
Bes worship. This idea is supported by the splend,id appearance
z A s 1 0 7( 1 9 8 0 ) P. Charvd,t: Bes Jtrg 49

fig. 4g-4g, a Bes's figure taking the whole body of the vessel, with ar"radditional decoration
of three small figures of Iles dancing). Judging from the stuck-out tongue, the BJ No. 12 15112646
from the collections of the Bgyptian Museum (Maspero 1902, 179) belongs to the New Kingdom
as well. This example is extremel.v interesting because the position of hands (bent in elbows with
hands resting on the abdominal region) and, above all, the plastic lumps of clav in the approximate
places of nipples point towards the older type of vessels decorated with female breasts held by
hand" s( Char v 6 ,t 1 g 7 4 , 1 0 0 -1 0 2 ). It i s q ui te natural that Maspero cal l ed i t a" femal e B es" . This
RJ could have some imllorta,nce for further studies on the trature of Bes and for the problem of
his pcrssiblebisexualitv (upon which subject see most recentlv Ward 1972).Furthermore, we know
two stole-carved [JJ's from the reign of Ramesse II: from Serabit el-Khadim on Sinai (Leeds
Lg22, 2Lah. I I a b o v e ) a n d fro rn T h e b e s (L eeds et al . 1931,46). E xcept that, l et us note a few vess els
r , v it h dr awing o f h u m a l e v e s e i th e r o r-rthe neck (B ruvdre 1926, pl . IX : 21, hi erogl vphi c si gn
"nefer" verticallv between them as nose?)or on the body with the cartouche of Ramesse II be-
t w e e n t h e m a s " n o s e " ( \ \ ' r z e s i n s k i 1 9 2 31 i l. 1 2 ) . I s t h e r e a n v c o n n e c t i o nb e t w e e n t h e s e a n d t h e
RJ ' s ? I ' inallv , l e t u s n o te a R J p a i n te d i n a tomb from the rei gn of R amesseX (R ruvdre 1939,95) .
It is inclucleclipto the lrootv of Ethiopia, and this was taken bv Bruvdre as a proof of the RJ's
Africal origin. as he considereclit to be the oldest represetrtation of the IIJ in existetrce.
I)prirrg the Lu,te :rrrcl(l-raet'cl-Rornanperiods, the nature of the god Bes contains ltoth the above-
r nept i6r r ecal s l re c .ts :th a t o f th e g ' o r1o f sensual pl easuresancl that of the underw orl d demon (see
a l 1 1 ; r - e 1 r . .Ilrrui rl .t I e y t r r o r e . i r i s < l o n t a i t t s a r e m u s i c , d a n c e ( \ ' ad, n ' Adlilebra d i e 1 9 3 8 , 3 4 ' B o t r n e t
1 r ; ' r . t l t l l r i y t ( [ r v e p : e \ 1 i 1 1l i f e r( \ ' a n d i e r d ' A ] r l l a c l i e 1 { ) 3 U3, 4 , [ J o n n e L 1 9 5 2 ,1 0 5 b ) .I r " rt h e
( ) r ' r e k i r t , r . i , ' l r r , l l i r r k i r r s r - e s s e(l I l e s i a k o n )i s c a , l l e c] lr v h i m ( B o n n e t 1 9 5 2 , 1 0 a b ) . D u r i n g t h e
l- : r t t [ ) , , - ] ' r , , ri :r:,,l e s p e c .i trl i l l vth e Gra e co-l toman i l ge. I3es' stempl es w ere founded otl some pl aces
.:. F-r.t,i :r.r : i r ( i ( i i 1 r ' ( Q u i l r e l l 1 9 0 7 , 1 2 - 1 4 ) , A l r r - c l o -l "P i a n k o f f 1 9 3 7 - 3 8 , 3 2 ) a n d a t B a h r i a
a
r : . : F r k S r . r - 1 9 - 1 2 .1 6 6 ) .H i s g r e a t y r o l r u l a r i t vd u r i n g t h e s : a g e s i s s h o t v u b - v - t h e g r a f f i t o oGf r a e c o -
I ' . , r n. in aqr - r' e a c l i rrg" th e w h o l e l a n c l a cknori ' l ecl ges the pow er of B es" (Y andi er d' A bl tadi e
I r 3: . 34r . A t th e s a me ti m e , h o u .e v e r,h i s othel aspect of a frl rmi dabl e underw orl d demon, cutti r r g
, , r it h his gr ea t k n i fe th e h e a rts o f th e e r-i l l reol rl eout, i s not negl ected (S aad 19-13,150ff.) This
il. ilr e( . tr ey ea l s i ts e l f i n th e g rtrv e g o o c l s.arnong w hi ch w e fi r-rdthe B J' s (13akrv 19611, P l . IV fig.
7lr, g l r . 1 - t l r , 1 6 1 r , l t l l r ) o r . s t a t u e t t e s o f B e s , s o m e t i m e se l o r l u e n t l . v t i e d t o t h e d e a d l r lan'sstaff
so that the god might learl his u,av througtr the underwclrld (Saatl 1{).t3,rvith the cartouche of
Takelot lI of XXII clvltrstv). Iles is now elevated to the rank of the patron deity of the dead
r v hom he pr o v i d e s w -i th c o o l u ,a te r (l ' a khrv 1942, 165ff.). It-t sl ti te of that, how ever, IJes as au
underworld clernon is essentiallv darrgerous. According to an ostracot-tfrom the XXII d.Ynastv
( P iank of f t g B Z -3 8 , 3 2 ), th e s u rro u n c l i ngsof the A b;-dos templ e w ere haunted b.v the underrvo r ld
spirits called.l.t3tju:,which - in this period - ma)'be used for" the demoniac aspect of Bes (to the
crrntrar.v of the New Kingdom usage). The Graeco-Roman period is characterized bv slo'w fusion
of the hitherto sharlrlv clefinecldivinities (and their intermixing). Res is identified with a number
of divinities, and his female counterpart, the dwarf Reset, makes her appeararlce (Ward 1972).
In spite 6f that, however, Bes's popularitv outlived the Rotnan rule over Eg1'pt and reached
t he Copt s . F o r th e n , h e me a n s - o n o n e si de - an evi l anti -C hri sti an demon (P i ankoff 1937-3 8,
33, hagiographical literature), but on the other side, a Bes-shapedamulet has been found in a Chri-
s t i a n g r a v e ( N a g a - e d - I ) e r ,Q u i t r e l l 1 9 0 7 , 1 4 ) .
The BJ und.ergoes visible crhanges.The face, formerlv three-dimensional and naturalistic, is
now d.epicted by means of small lumps of clav in the shape of ertebrows, nose, etc., joined to the
wall of the vessel, whereby it acquires the appea,ranceof but a surface decoration. The details are
-whole represontation looks more like a caricature. Even on BJ's,
incised.and" stamped. and the
B es r et ains h i s tw o a s p e c ts : th e p l e a s u re god on a B erl i n museum B J (E rman 1899 N o.7217)
holds a palm brar-rcha1d. a sistrum in his hands, while the grim underworld demorl on an Egvpbian
Museum BJ (No. gI22) clutches - in addition to the palm branch - a long knife in a ftr,shion similar
t o a Def enn e h IIJ (P e tri e 1 8 8 u , p l . XX V : a5). E ven the shape of the R J changes: the neck,
4 Z t - ' i t s c l r rf.i i r ' t r g y p t . S p L i l t : l t t 'l,1 ) 7 ,l l r r r r r i
50 P . C l r a ,r t ' i i 1 , : R e s J u g z A s 1 0 7( 1 9 8 0 )

cylindrical or tapering, clearly visuallv separated from the body, with a strap handle, sometimes
issuing from a special collar on the neck, and egg-shaped, cylindrical or conical body are tvpical.
We might note that this shape is tvpical for 10th - 6th (BC) century inPalestine (Pritchard 1954,
45: l48, l o w e r ri g h t).
For the first section of the Late Period (end of New Kingdom to beginning of Saite period r
we m us t fi rs t l i s t a N u b i a n e x a mp l e (D unhan-Janssen 1960,55 fi g. 26,28-I-169a), utrfortrt r lat e-
ly unstratified (found in rubbish). It seelns to be a very weird-looking compromise between a Neu-
Jfingd.om three-dimensionalitv and Late Period linaritv. This might possibly be a late ancl local
imitation of New Kingdom RJ's. In this period, we find the classical Late Period BJ's rvitli joint
clav lumps decoration together with incisions and stamping (Petrie 1890, pl. XXIV : 27), but
we must note other BJ's where the face is modelled from small oblong pieces of clay onll-, with
very modest incised decoration (Rrunton 1930, 23 pl. XLII: 1). Finally we frequently meet
small BJ's with eyes and nose only depicted by small circles impressed into the clay (Anthes
e t a l . 1 9 5 9 ,2 5 f f . w i t h f u r t h e r r e f e r e n c e s , p l .1 7e , 2 0 b , L a u e r 1 9 3 9 , 4 5 I f i g . 3 7 , 3 8 ) .
During the Saitic period, onlv cluantitative changes take place. Furthermore, we meet BJ's
with face modelled from oblong pieces of clav with little additional decoration (Petrie 1888, 65,
pl. X X X V : 6 5 , Ma l l e t 1 9 9 3 , 6 a fi g. 13, w i th Greek pottery fromD efenneh),buttheoverw h elm -
irg majoritv of RJ's is constituted bv classical l.,ate Period pieces with joined clay pieces, in-
c i s i o n sa n d s t a m p i n g ( \ \ ' a l l i s R u c l g e 1 9 2 2 .2 6 1 ,P e t r i e 1 9 0 6 , 4 9B r u n t o n 1 9 3 0 , 2 3p l . X L I I : 1 ,
J 6 q u i e r 1 9 2 8 , 3 5 f i g . 3 6 , f r o n r s a r l r ec e n r e t e r r - G r e e kp a i n t e d f l a g o n f r o m 6 t h c e n t . [ ] C , P e t r i e
1 8 8 9 , g p l . X I \ - : 3 . D u n c a n 1 9 3 r Jt r - p e 7 S : l I . f r o n r C i e r a r r .\ \ - i t h t ' e g a r c l st o t r l a r g e < l u a n t i t r -o f
t he B J ' s o f th i s t)' p e i t s e e tn sth a t th e maj ori tr-of the IIJ' s cut' rentl r-on erhi l ,i ti on i n the E gvpt ian
Museuln belongs to the Saite period (as *-ell as 12 fragtnents of BJ's fouttcl during tire Czechoslovak
excavatiols at the mastaba of Ptahshepses at Abusir). A third t1-pe is constituted by small BJ's
w i t h e y e sa n d n o s eo n l y ( P e t r i e 1 9 2 8 ,p l . ? 8 c , f , f r o m G e r a r , P e t r i e 1 9 0 6p l . X X X I X I ' : 1 7 7 - L 8 4 ,
P et r ie 1 8 8 8 , 6 5 p l . X XX V: 6 4 ,6 6 ),rarel y, onl y the nose i s represented(P etri e 1915,pl . X I : 31)
or the whole face is stylized into a linear design (same pl. XI: 48). Possibly at the end of the period
we rneet, more elaborate and individual pieces worked out three-dimensionally (Petrie 1909
pl. LIV : 826,828, 844,845),as if anticipating the "baroque" decorativenessof Graeco-Roman BJ's.
Un{ortunately, the following BJ's (proba}rlv from Late Period as well) cannot be preciselv
d a t e d : A n t h e s e t a l . 1 9 6 5 ,1 4 5 _ . 6 , 4 3 4 - 4 3 p 6 l . 6 0 . - B a k r y 1 9 6 8 ,p l . I V : 7 b , 9 b , 1 4 b , 1 6 b , 1 8 b ,
f r om bur i a l s . C a ta l o g u e P ri c e 4 0 4 M o. 3345. - E rman 1899, 438 N o. 12 237. - Gatty 18 77, 57
-
N o . 4 0 2 .- L e e m a n s 1 8 4 0 , 9 0 . - M a s p e r o 1 9 0 7 , 3 1 1 f i g . 3 0 -8M . u r r a Y 1 9 1 1p l . X X V : 7 7 , 7 8 . -
-
P et r i e l g L 1 , p l . X XX VI: 11 8 - " l a ter than X V III dynasby" . P etri e 1928 pl . LIX : 78 c, f , I n.
During the Graeco-Roman period, fewer BJ's occur than before, but therr &re executed in a
very peculiar d.ecorative style. The image of Bes loses its simple clarity and becomes Inore and more
sophisticated and complicated until the BJ's lose their practical utility and change into rather
rnonstrous objects, possibly of cultic use. This is aptly demonstrated by the BJ's contained in
the case with Roman pottery currentlv on exhibition at the Egyptian Museum (unfortunately,
no numbers could. have been obtained). The largest piece finds an analogy in the execution of Bes's
face on the clay images of this god from his shrine at Saqqa,ra,of Ptolemaic date (Quibell 1907,
pl. XXVII:2). Smaller pieces show the degenerateddecoration disintegrating into simple knobs
on the surface of the vessel. We may still find BJ's of classicalLate Period type,but they are less
numerous than before.
Other finds show BJ's of classical type (tr'iakhry 1938, 398 pl. LXXI: a, second from left, de
- V I or gan 1 8 g 5 ,a 5 fi g .9 4 ), w i th fa c e model l ed from obl ong pi ecesof cl a,y (B runton 1930pl . XLI I :
1) or f r om s m a l l l u mp s o f c l a y j o i n e d to the surface (P etri e 1911, pl . X X V :32). E xcept t hese,
small juglets with eyes and nose only occur (Petrie 1906, pl. XXIA: 34, 35) and rnore carefully
worked small bottles with the head of Bes, sometimes doubled (Jesi 1963 fig. 1, 2). We rna,y see
the vessels d.ecorated.with human head in cultic use on the reliefs of Roman age (Sauneron
1968, No. 120 detail). X'rom the Greek period onwards, Egvptian pottery shows more variants
 z A s r o z( 1 e 8 0 ) P. Charvdt: Bes Jrrq i)l

of the motive of human head on pottery: small head-shaped juglets of theGreek period (Petrie
1t 186,41 pl. X V, l { o g e n s e n 1 9 3 0 p l .L ) , heads or hurnan busts on speci al pottery types and fa i-
e n c e ( I - , , u n s i n g h - S c h e u r l e e r 1 9 6 5 ,8 2 f f . , ) a n d o n d o m e s t i c p o t t e r y ( P e t r i e 1 8 8 9 p l . X V : 3 ,
Z u y e d 1 9 6 2 . 1 3 5f i g .r i ) .
As for the Coptic period (cf. supra p. 49), it seems that the BJ is a most stubborn hangover
fronr pagan titnes: it rvas found at Tell Edfu in a laver dated into 10th century AD (Henne
1925, 21 1r l.XX II, l o u ' e r re g i s te r, s e c o nd from ri ght).

RE}'BRENCE S

-\ntlies.I-i.. r't al. 1959: IIit liahineh 1955, Philadelphia 1959; 1965: Mit Raliineh 1956, Philatlelphia 1965.
J J r r l i r ' ) - , ] { . 1 9 6 8 : A s f f r n r r l - M t r , t 6 , ' n c h S o n t l a , g e s ,A S A E 6 0 , 1 9 6 8 , 3 7 - 5 3 .
Bittr'1, K. 1936: Vorlii,ufigcr Be,rich1,... Boghazkdy 1935, MDOG 74, 1936, l-75.
[ ] t r r t r t e t . ] I . 1 . 9 5 1; f l o . r l l e x i k o n t l e r d , g y p i i s c h e n R e l i g i o n s g e s c h i c h ' b e , I ] e r l i n 1 9 5 2 .
.Bt'urr1orr, (1. 1930: Qau anrl Barlari II[, Lontlon 1930.
IJrrrntorr, G. - Engelbach, R,. 1927: Gurob, Lonrlon 1927.
Bruydre, B. 7926 Rapport sur les Foirilles rle Dt,ir t'l-I,I6rlineh 1924-25,Le Cairo 1925;1937: Fouilles de
Deir el-M6dineh 1933-34 (Ltr,Necropolc rl'Orrest I), Cairo 19i]7; 1939: Rapport sur les Fouilles de D. e.-
M. III: Le Villago . L e C l t r , i r o1 9 3 9 ; 1 9 5 3 : L e s F o r r i l l r . s r l t . D . e . - M . 1 9 4 8 - 5 1 , L c C a i r o 1 9 5 3 .
Cataloguo Price: Ctrta'krguc'of tiir, llg.\-ptirrn Arrtitlrritics in tlre Possession of F. G. Hilton Price, Lonrlon
18 9 7 .
( , ' a , r t t : r . l I . - ( l t l , r I r a I ' \ ' o r r , I l r r r l o f 1 1 ) l J : I r ' i v r ' \ ' r ' r r l s ' l N x l t l < l r t ri,o1n s t r , t T h r . b e s , L o n t l o n 1 9 1 2 .
( . i t r r l t ' r ' . } J . - N t ' r i l r c r r t . I ' . 1 { ) { ) " 1' :l ' l r r ' ' l ' o r n l r o f ' f l r o r r l r r r 6 s i sI \ r ( ( l i l a l o g u e G 6 n 6 r a l d e s A n t i q u i t 6 s E g y p t i , , n -
r r l s ) . L ( ) l r , l r ) l1) { } l t + .
(']ritt r i,r I ' , l l , l i { : f ) t , t L , , r r ilii , . t r u n i l i r Lz . I ' 1i r } r l , , f ) s i r , < , 1 r; n1 t' .r y, s' t a b ; .v A b r r S i r u ( D c c O r a t e d P o t t e r f ' f r o r r i ' : ,
- t l , r ' , , , ' , , : I ' - , r : , - r . " r , - , - , r - - \ i , r . i t ' . i r r ( ' z t ' r ' l r ) r. r n p r r b l i s h e r tl l i s s e r t a t i o n ,P r a , h a 1 9 7 4 .
. : . ' .' - . ) , l ' ; r r ' r ' . 7 , . - , r , 1 l r ) ' i r ( r c r l r l . . ( A S c e p t e r r a n t l a T o i l e t V e s s e l , i n R u s s i a n ) . D r t , r ' n i j , I ' ; . '
l l - , t . . I 1 l t r i r )j.+ j - j r i l
'l'ri',r
... ',r,. \\'. Ltt;1: s r l i i r r r ( ) 1 ,j , ' ( ' t sf r ' o l l )l i g y p t , L e v a n t I I f , 1 9 7 1 , 8 t l - 8 9 .
i t , r r i ; i r r . - \ 1 . l ! ) i r ( i : - l . l x t . r r v ri rorr r s i r i \ r r l u r l i v r , h , I E J 6 , L g 5 6 l l . 1 4 - 2 5 .
l ) r L t t r ' i t t r . , l . l 1 ) ; t l ) (: l o r l l r r so f l ) t r , t c r lI ) t r ] r ' s t i n i t l nI ) o 1 .t 1, r ' ) - L, o n r l o r r 1 9 3 ( ) .
l ) r r r r l r r r r r r .l ) . - , fr r n s s ( ' r r . . J . l 1 ) ( i l l lf 1 ' 1 1 1 1 rI t( rl .u n l n r t . l i o s t o r r 1 9 ( i ( ) .
I ) t r l i . \ ' . l ) . l 9 ( i 9 : ' \ t l o l ' l l r t ' A r r t ' i t ' l t t N c i t t ' l ' l i t s tt r r r , l. \ l i r l r l l oI t r t r s t N
, otr-York & LorrrIlrr l1]ri1l
l ' l r l r v r r r r l s , l . 1 9 7 : i : ' l ' l r , '' l ' r ' r ' i r s u t ' o
t,s
l ' ' l ' r r t i r , r r k l r t r r r r rNr reru, Y o l k 1 9 7 3 .
f ' l t " r r t r t r , A . 1 8 9 9 : , \ r r s l ' i r l r r ' l i r l r c sV t , r ' z t ' i t ' l r r r i ,s1 , , r '. \ t ' g . r " l r t i s r . l r c A
r rl t r , r t h i i u r e r (ligl. ll i-. t, 1 r lj .r'lirrr.
lJcrlin 1899.
v ,. 1 9 3 8 : J l t r , l r l i r r r r r , l l " a r r r f r i r ( ) r r s c s
l " i t , l < l t l ' . - -A . '\S'\lt XXX\/ll[. 1 9 : t t i . 3 9 7 - + : i { : 1 ! r + i : l i i L i r l i t r ,O r r s i s ,
( lriro 1942.
( I r r I t r ' . ( ' l t . 1 8 7 7 : O a t a , l o g r t eo f t l t t , } l t . . r ' r ' r('' o l l t ' c l i o r r : [ ' l ' l r t l l g r ' p t i t r r A r r t i r l r r i ti , . = .I - i r - , . r ' l t r l r 1
, rtli 7 7 .
( l l t ' r t f e l l . a . 1 9 0 2 : T l r t : I c o r r o g r a p l r . r ' o fI J c s . I ) S I I A 2 { . 1 9 0 J . 2 1 - + o .
H . t r , r " t , s .\ V . 1 9 5 3 : T l r r , $ s c p t e r o f E g y p t , I . N t , r r ' \ I o r l i l g i i t l l 9 i r 9 : ' l - i r c S . , , l , t , . r ' , r i l ) g r - p t f [ , C a m b r i t l g , r ( M a s s . )
19 5 9 .
IIelck, \\t. 1962: Rozir:ltrrtrgr,n A t , s y p t c n s z u V c l l t l t , r ' t r s i ( : n . . \ \ i . ' - i r i rl t . r r 1 9 6 2 .
IIerrtte,IL. 1 9 2 5 : L e s ! ' o t r i l l e - .tsl o ' I l e l l H r l f o r r 1 9 2 i 1 - 2 4 , [ , r ' ( ' r r i r ' , .1 ! l j . l .
I{roucla, } 3 . 1 9 5 8 : D i e C h r r r r i t c r a l s P r o b l e r r r r l r c h i i o l o g i - q t ' 1 r , 'lt' - , ) r ' i . l l u l r q . A r c h e o l o g i a G e o g r a p h i c a 7 , 1 9 5 8 ,
L4-27.
J6quier, G ' . 1 9 2 8 : L e M a s t t r , b u , 1I ,r ' a , r a , o r r nL, t ' C l r r i r o 1 9 J S .
Jcsi,l'. 1963: Bes bifronte e Bes Errntr,frorlito. Atqr-irtris 1963,,III-IV,237-255.
Junker, H. L92l: Dor nubisc,ht, L-r'spnrr]g rlt,r' sog. T,'11-el-Jehurlija-Vasen, Ad. cl. W. in Wien, Phil. Hist.
I { . , S i t z u n g s b . , 1 8 9 . B r l . . l J .A b h . . \ \ - i t . n 1 9 J 1 .
I{lengei, H . 1 9 6 7 : G e s c l r i c ' } } t eu . I i r r l t r r r ^ \ l t s r - r i t , t r s I , L . i p z i g 1 9 6 7 .
Lauer, J. 1939: l'otrilles rltr Sr,r'r-it'e,lesAntiqtrit6s t\ Saqqarah, ASAE XXXIX, 1939. 447-467.
l,eorls, E. 1922: Alabast,'r Vas.'s of the Nc.n- Kingdorn from Sinai, JllA al.. 1931: Surnmary 8. 1922, I-4;eb
Grrirle-Ashrnolean Jfusetrrn. Departrnent of Anbiquities, Oxfortl 1931.
Le ornarts, G. 1840: Description Raisonn6c cles Monurnents Egypbiens du M'-rs6e des Antiquit6s rles Pays-
Bn,s, Leiclo 1840.
Lunsingh-Sclierrlleer. R,.1965: Alexanrler in Faience, Bulletin... antieke Beschaving (BABesch) XL,
1965.80-83.
52 z A s 1 0 7( 1 e 8 0 )

Mallet. G. 1891]: Iues prerniers 6tablissenlents grecs erl llgypte, Paris 1893.
Maspero. C l . 1 9 0 2 : G r - r i r l er l u V i s i t r : u r a u M u s 6 o ' r l e [ ' r r i r o . f , e C ) a , i r e1 9 0 2 ; 1 9 0 7 : L ' a r c l t 6 o l o g i e E g 1 - p t i e n t r e ,
Paris 1907"
Mogerrson, M " 1 9 3 0 : L a G l y p t o t h d q r r e N y C a r l s b e r g : L a C ' o l l e c i l i o r rI J g l - p t i t ' n n r ' . ( ' o p t ' n l l a g u e 1 9 3 0 .
<le Morgan. J . 1 1 i 9 5 : F o r r i l l t - . st \ D a h c h o u r , N f a r s - J u i n 1 8 9 4 . \ ' i e n t t c 1 u 9 5 .
M u r r & ) - , M . 1 9 1 1 : F - i g u r e - \ r t r s ( ' isn l l g y p t , I l i s t o r i c t r , l S t u t l i e s . L o I ) ( l o I ) 1 9 1 1 , 4 ( ) - 4 6 .
Nagel, G . 1 9 3 8 : L a C d r t r , r r r i c l t r trl,u , N o r r v e l E r n p i r e r \ D e i r t ' l - l l 6 r l i r r e l t , [ , P t r t ' i s 1 9 3 8 .
Naville, E . 1 8 9 9 : I l ' i g u r i n e s6 g v p t i o n n e s r l e l ' 6 p o q r r e a r c l t a , i q t r t 'R
Pt.et, E.-WoollerI, L . 1 9 2 1 ] : T h e C ' i t t ' o f A k h e n a t e r r - 1 ,L o n t l o t r 1 9 2 3 .
. T N. S.5. 1899. 212-2111. I
Petrio', W. NL Ir. 1886: Naukratis J, Lontlon 1886; 1888: ll'anis il (i\ebesheh ct Defenneh), London 1888;
1889: T{au'artr. l3iahrnrr, trrrrl Arsinot:. Lon<lon 1889; 1890: Kaltrrn. Clrrrob, tlnrl lltr,u'ara, Lonrlon 1890;
'ft.'llt,l-Arrlal'na. T,otrrlotr
1891: illalnrn, Kahun" tlnrl (,lrrrob, Lonrlon 1891; 1894: 1894; 1897: Six Temples
ab Tht:bes, Lonrlon 1897; 1906: Hyksos u,nrl lsraelite Oibies. f,otrrlon 19()(i; 1911: Roman Portraits and
Memphis I V , f , o n r l o n 1 9 1 1 ; 1 9 1 2 : ' f h e [ , a b ; r 1 i 1 1 1 , G r r r z e h , a , t r r l] ' I t r z g r r u r , l t .L o t r d o n l 9 l 2 ; 1 9 1 5 : He]io-
polis, KafrArnrna,r. anrI Shurtr,fa.Lonrlon 1915; 192i]: La,htrtr il. Lotrrlorr 1923;1924: Setlrnent I, Lontlon
'l'lrc
1 9 2 4 : l 9 2 4 l l I : S c r l r n r r n t | [ , L o n r l o n 1 9 2 4 : 1 9 2 8 : ( , l e r t r ' r .L o t t t l o t t 1 9 2 t t : I g i f 9 : ]IakiI-rg of Eglrpt, Lon-
rlon l9li9.
P i a , n k o f f - A . 1 . t J 3 7 - : i 8 :S r r t ' r u t c s t t r , t r t c t . t tel e l J t \ s . B I I f A O 3 7 . 1 9 3 7 - 3 8 . J 9 - : ] 3 .
Prit,clra,rrl.,I. 1 9 6 4 : A n c i c r r t N t a , r ' l l n s l i n P i c ' 1 r r r e sP
. ritrt'etott 1954.
( - l ' t l i r o1 9 o 7 .
Qrribell, J. 1907: !lxt'avatitttrs a1 Saqrltlra t9()5-6. Lt,
S a , a , t l, Z . 1 9 4 3 : S t a l t t e t t e o 1 ' 1 , h eg o r l I S e s . , . , A S A I I 4 2 , 1 9 4 : 1 , l 4 i - l i t 2 .
Schaef f t:r, C.-Chcnet, G . 1 9 4 9 : O o r p u s c 6 r a , r n i c p c r l e R a s S l t a r n t ' r l ,U g a r i t i e r , i l , P a r i s 1 9 4 9 , 1 3 1 - 3 0 2 .
1 I ' u c r h e l 1 . , K . 1 9 6 2 : T i e r g e f i i , B e ri n K o p f - r r . P r o t o m e n g t + s t a , l t . l s t . I , ' o r s t ' h . 2 2 . I l c r l i r r 1 9 6 2 .
1 I ' r r f n e l l . O . . e t t r , l .1 9 5 1 t : f , a c h i s h I V . L o t r t l o r r 1 9 5 t ' f .
V r r , n r l i e r r t l ' A l r l r a r l i t , . J . 1 9 3 8 : L T n ef r e s c { r r et ' i v i l o r l e f ) e i t ' c l - } f t ' r r l i r r t ' l rl.l t ' r ' . r l ' 6 g r " p 1 . T I I ' . 1 9 3 8 . 2 7 - 3 i r ; 1 9 4 6 :
O s t r a < ' a ,f i g r r r 6 s t l e D e i r e l - N I 6 t l i n e h f I I . 1 9 , t 6 . L t ' ( l a i r o 1 9 4 6 .
\ V a l l i s I J r r r l g e . E . 1 9 2 2 : I l r i t i s h M r r s e r r r n , , \ C l r r i r l et o t h e l " o r r r - t l t , I r i f L l r . t r , n r lS i x t h l t r g y p t i a n l i o o r n s , a n d t h t - '
Coptic Roorn, Lontlotr 1922.
Warcl, \ \ ' ' . 1 9 7 2 : A U n i q u c l l e s e t l ' i g r r r : i t r c .O r . N . S . 4 1 . 1 9 7 2 , 1 4 9 - 1 i r 9 .
Wreszinski, \ \ r . 1 9 2 i ] : A 1 , l a sz r r r a l l r i g t ' p l i s r ' l t t : n K r r l . t u r g e s c h i t : h t e I . L t ' i 1 t z . i g1 9 2 : 3 .
Z a . v e r l , A . 1 9 6 2 : S o r n r ,A n l i c l r r i t i c s ] , ' o r u r r la 1 E l M i n t ' l r a l t i r t 1 9 i r 9 , A S A I l 5 7 , 1 9 6 2 . 1 3 3 - 1 3 6 .

,\lrlllevirttions

ASr\E - A t t t t a l t ' s r l t t S t ' t ' r ' ' i t ' tr' l t ' s A n l i q u i t d r s t l ' l J g l - p t e . ( 1 i r , i t ' o .
BIFAO - J l t r l l c L i t r r l ' I n s t i t r l t l , ' r ' a , r r r , ' arils' A r t , l t 6 < i l o g i e ( ) r ' i e n t a l t ' . ( ' i t i t ' < 1 .
IItrJ - IsraeI ExpJclratirltr J.oulttal. Jenrsalerrt.
MDOC+ - M i t t e i h u ) g e r ) r l e r f ) e r r t s r , h e n C ) r i e t r t - G e s t , l l s c ' l t t r , f l .I l e r ' l i r r .
Or.N. S. - Orierrtalia, Nova Series, Rornt,.
PSBA - Proceetlings of 1,he So<'iety of Biblica,l Art'ltaeologr'. Lcinrlotr.
RT - Recueil rles Travallx . , Paris.

ErKn Fnnrnn I

Yier Siegeltler Friihzeit im Leipziger Museumt

Die wichtigste Quelle unserer Kertntnis der tikonomischen, politischen und religicisen Verhti,lt-
nisseder Friihzeit der rigyptischen Geschichte sind neben den monumentalen G'rabbauten, die durch
F'orm, Anlage uncl Inhalt litickschliisse auf das Leben zul&ssen,s1)arsameSchriftzeugnisse, die

I Grunrllage tlieses Atrfstrtzt's is1 t'irr Vorlrag tr,uf tlt,rrl S r . n r p o s i o n a n l i i l S l i c h t l e r E r d f f n u n g d e s L e i p z i g e r

M u s e u m s a t n 1 2 . I I a i 1 9 7 t i . T c ' l l r l r r t r k e l " r a u D r . I { r a t r s p e f i i r r l i e E r l a r r t r n i s , r l i e S i e g e l 2 q 1l r t l t c i f f e n t l i c h e n u n t l
Ilerpr Dr'. Stei1rnal1. ,lg{} t'r rlie Abhiltlttlqett zt,igltttt'te