Bes
Intention: Invite protective humor and joyful household defense
Offerings & Symbols
- A small humorous or protective figure
- A tambourine or noisemaker
- Something that makes you laugh
Culture: Ancient Egyptian Domain: Household protection, childbirth, music, humor
Bes, shown as a dwarf figure with a lion-like face, protected homes, mothers and children through a combination of fierce appearance and genuine humor, believed to ward off evil spirits by frightening them away or simply making them laugh; he was one of the most personally beloved deities of ordinary Egyptian households.
Associations
Household protection, humor as a real defense, childbirth, music and noise-making.
Ways people honor him (modern)
- Use humor deliberately to defuse tension or fear in your household
- Keep a small, cheerful protective figure by the door
- Play music or make noise as part of a protective house-blessing
- Read about his enormous popularity in ordinary Egyptian domestic religion, more household charm than formal temple god
Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.
