Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online

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Bes
(542 words)

I. Name

The name of the Egyptian god or demon Bes (Copt. BHC; Gk. βησας) occurs in the personal name bēsāy in Ezra 2.49, cf. Neh. 7.52. In Egypt this divine name was also often used as a personal name.

II. Identity

The god or demon Bes was represented as a bandy legged deformed dwarf or more precisely as a lion-man (Romano 1980). His ugly human face, his animal hair or manes, ears and tail are indeed more likely those of a lion than of a human dwarf. He dances, plays musical instruments s…

Cite this page
H. te Velde, “Bes”, in: Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online, Edited by: Karel van der Toorn, Bob Becking, Pieter W. van der Horst. Consulted online on 01 April 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7802_DDDO_DDDO_Bes>



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