Bes vessel

Bes vessel

Early 4th century BCE - 4th century CE

Unknown (Egyptian)

Egyptian

Style/Period: Romano-Egyptian

Repository: Museum of Classical Antiquities, University of Ottawa / Musée d'antiquités gréco-romaines, Université d'Ottawa

decorative art|containers|religious and cult objects

Materials/Techniques: Mold-made ceramic, Nile silt fabric; the dark finish may be the result of reduction firing

Measurements: 8.9 cm high, 5.3 cm wide

Small, dark-coloured vessel formed in the shape of the god Bes. Bes makes up the main body of the vessel, which extends above his head into a short neck with rimmed lip. The figure has a round stomach, and is squatting with his hands resting on his knees. He wears an animal skin which is visible from the incised texture on the back and the front legs on his shoulders or around his neck, but is otherwise nude. There is an ornament worn across his chest, with one point down the middle, the two others extending upwards across his chest. His face has a pug nose, arched eyebrows, and a beard. The head is smooth with a curl protruding from each side of the head over the shoulder, and one angular point on his forehead. A handle has been broken off from the neck and rim of the vessel and the shoulder, these being the points of attachment to the main body. The exposed material at the breaks and in worn areas is of a lighter reddish colour.

Bes

Repository Accession Number: 976.6.1

Record: UO-MCA-976-6-1

Cataloguer: Georgian Parkes, University of Ottawa

Photographer: Thomas Wort, University of Ottawa; Madison Blunden, University of Ottawa

Image Date: 2023

The images are provided by the Museum of Classical Antiquities, University of Ottawa. For contact information, visit the Museum website: https://arts.uottawa.ca/cla-srs/en/museum | Les images sont fournies par le Musée d'antiquités gréco-romaines de l'Université d’Ottawa. Visitez le site du musée pour les coordonnées : https://arts.uottawa.ca/cla-srs/fr/musee