Rare Romano-Egyptian Leaded Bronze Bes Figure

Egypt, Romano-Egyptian Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A striking example of a cast-leaded-bronze figure depicting Bes, the dwarf deity who watches over the household, particularly the women and children of the house, protecting them with the magical sign "sa." Covered in smooth layers of green patina, Bes presents with his characteristic bandy-legged pose while he throws back both shoulders and holds both hands to his waist. His squat face features thick brows above petite eyes, a protruding nose, a thick mustache and beard, and parted lips, all beneath a shoulder-length coiffure and his signature feathered crown. The rarity of this figure comes from his other embellishments - a lion-skin pelt with forepaws draped over his shoulders, back paws tied around his waist as a belt, and its tail draped behind his right calf muscle, as well as a snake coiling around his left forearm, its head held in his hand. Size: 1.1" W x 2.7" H (2.8 cm x 6.9 cm); 5.1" H (13 cm) on included custom stand.

Both the lion pelt and the snake allude to the great Classical hero Hercules (Greek Herakles). The lion pelt is symbolic of Bes' characteristic leonine features such as his intimidating guise, his mane-like beard, and his ferocious disposition, not to mention the pelt he is typically shown wearing in later dynastic periods. In fact, Bes was known in earlier dynastic periods as Aha-Bes, a dwarf deity with much more pronounced leonine features. The inclusion of the snake recalls in ancient Greek mythology how Hera (Roman Juno), Hercules' mother, attempted to kill Hercules in his cradle with a pair of serpents after discovering how Zeus' (Roman Jupiter) infidelity with the mortal Alcmene (Roman Alcmena), his great-granddaughter, had results in an illegitimate child. However, the infant Hercules strangled both serpents with his mythological strength. This serpentine syncretization likely alludes to Bes' role as a protector of young children and how his strength - like Hercules - enables him to perform his task with ease.

Cf. Il Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco, inventory number MB 60; Cf. a figure of Aha-Bes at the Liverpool University Institute of Archaeology, accession number 1977.110.2

Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries; ex-Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, June 2016; ex-D.M. collection, London, England, acquired in the 1980s

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#171577
Condition Report: Possible repair and restoration to verso of shoulders to middle of back, but expertly executed and nearly entirely invisible if present. Minor abrasions and encrustations, with some small casting flaws behind legs, and minor softening to finer details, otherwise in excellent condition. Wonderful patina throughout. Figure drilled through bottom of each foot for mounting and display purposes. Old inventory label beneath base of display stand.