Statuette fragment of the deity Bes

The item is likely Egyptian in origin, with Bes having formed part of the pantheon of Ancient Egyptian deities whose veneration would later expand across the Mediterranean.

Bes was one of the main deities purported to have magical protective powers. Grotesque in appearance, he was a protective genie of pregnant women, childbirth and new-borns; he protected marriage and the home, and took care of aspects relating to love and fertility. He was also god of cosmetics and feminine decorations. For men, he served a protective function against evil influences, snakes and monsters – in this respect it was common for Bes to be represented as a figurehead on Egyptian ships as protector of navigators.

This dwarf god is depicted naked, usually with large genitals, big head with a beard and flat nose. He would sometimes be depicted wearing a crown of vertical ostrich feathers, as is the case in this piece.