Bes

Temple of Hathor, Dendera (plan)

Bes, an apotropaic god, protected those who were unable to take care of themselves: children, pregnant women, drunkards, and so on. He is represented as a lion-headed dwarf who is sticking out his tongue. Lions are fierce, and dwarves are good luck. Bes' aspect often seems more comical than fierce¹, reflecting his approachability and the affection in which he was held by ordinary people.

Bes shows up at Hathor's temple for a reason. His job was to protect the divine child Ihy, born of Hathor and Horus (see previous page), whose union was celebrated here.