What is Bes?
[[Image:Deity Bes.png|right|thumb|200px|Bes]] '''Bes''' was the [[ancient Egypt]]ian god of protection of [[pregnant]] women, newborn babies and the family. He was a dwarf wearing a lion's skin. Bes does not look like he is Egyptian. He is like gods found in other parts of [[Africa]]. To scare away [[demon]]s during [[birth]], Bes would [[dance]] around the room, shaking his rattle and yelling to scare away demons that might put a curse on the child. After the child was born, Bes would stay by him/her. When a baby laughed or [[smile]]d for no reason, Egyptians believed that Bes was somewhere in the room making funny faces. His name appears to be connected to a Nubian word for ''[[cat]]'', ''besa'', which literally means ''protector''. Egyptians kept cats in order to attack [[snake]]s, and creatures that might ruin crop stores, such as mice, and so Bes was naturally singled out as worthy of worship in Egypt. ==Worship== Images of the god were kept in homes to protect from evil and so he was shown quite differently from the other gods. Normally gods were shown in profile, but instead Bes appeared in portrait, and sometimes in a soldier's [[tunic]], so as to appear ready to launch an attack on any approaching evil. In the [[New Kingdom]], [[tattoos]] of Bes could be found on the thighs of dancers, musicians and servant girls.<ref>Ancient Egypt Online, [http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/bes.html God Bes]</ref> Like many Egyptian gods, the [[worship]] of Bes was exported overseas, and he was popular with the [[Phoenicians]] and the (ancient) [[Cyprus|Cypriots]]. == Purpose == '''Bes''', the family god, protected children from the dangers of snakes and [[scorpion]]s. Like the [[hippopotamus]] god [[Taweret]], Bes was the protector of women in childbirth. The Egyptians put a statue in their room or a carving over their bed to protect them from bad dreams. He brought good luck and good health to all that honored him. This household [[deity]] was also the god of music, dance and pleasure. == Physical Descript