Bes Jars

Bes was one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt, although few people have heard of him. Unlike the official forty-two state gods, Bes was a household god. He was easily identified by his curly beard and the knives or rattles that he wielded. He was portrayed as looking fierce and threatening, in order to ward off bad luck and evil. Before being given the name ‘Bes’, he was known as the demonic ‘Aha’, or fighter. He was thought to be able to strangle bears, lions, and snakes with his bare hands.


Originally being reserved solely as a protector of the king, he soon became a popular god of everyday ancient Egyptian people, and was often depicted on household items such as beds, chairs, mirrors, and walls. Bes protected the home, and the people of ancient Egypt would honor him in the hope of family protection.


Bes may be most well known though, for his protection of children, beginning at birth. Images of him were painted on walls of birthing rooms protecting both mother and child. If problems arose during labor, a clay statue of Bes was placed by the head of the mother, while protective spells were cast over her. Children throughout all of Egypt, both rich and poor, wore amulets of him in hopes of keeping accidents and illnesses at bay.

The ancient Egyptians believed in a principle called Ma’at, or balance in everything. Probably owing to this belief, Bes was not just associated with fierceness, but also entertainment, laughter, and happiness. He was thought to please and entertain children with singing and dancing, and is therefore depicted as both happy and jovial.

One of the most common depictions of Bes were jars decorated with his face. If a child were ill, milk would be given to them in one of these Bes jars. It was believed that the milk would turn to medicine and protect the child. If the child didn’t get well though, of course a doctor would be called. It was then not uncommon for the physician to offer medicine out of a Bes jar.

The final form of Bes jars came during the Roman period. Bes jars were no longer delegated to only children. Soldiers, believing that they were vulnerable, just like a child, often drank their beer rations out of Bes jars in hopes of protection from attacks.

The most important aspect of life to the ancient Egyptians was family. Ancient Egypt was a very dangerous place to live, with 30-50% of people not even making it to adulthood, due to disease, animal attacks, and more. Rather than feeling helpless to the dangerous conditions, Egyptians honored gods such as Bes to protect their family, therefore giving them a sense of control over their chaotic world.

-- Jen Slauter, Docent

Tear Bottles

The first documented reference to collecting tears in a bottle appears in the Hebrew Scriptures. David prays to God, “Thou tellest my wanderings, put thou my tears in Thy bottle, are they not in Thy book?” (Psalms 56:8, approximately 1020 BCE)

Tear bottles, or lachrymatories, also abound in stories of ancient Egypt and Rome, as well as Middle Eastern societies.

Around 100 CE many of these small bottles were found in tombs. Because so many glass vials were found in tombs, the theory was developed that they were part of the mourning ritual. It was believed that mourners would fill the small glass vials with tears and place them in burial tombs as a symbol of love and respect. Sometimes mourners were even hired for wealthy funerals. Those crying the loudest and who produced the most tears received the most compensation. The more anguish and tears that were produced, the more valued and important the deceased person was seen to be, or so the stories go.

Glass blowing was prevalent during the Roman Period, and continued throughout most of history. Byzantine (East Roman Empire) Glass was well known, and even in Western Europe after the withdrawal of Roman power there, the Franks continued the tradition. Examples of glass blowing in the Islamic world, and to the East, in China and Japan are all attested. The western European Renaissance saw a tremendous upsurge in glass blowing, especially in Venice, where it is still famous today.

Because tear shaped bottles were an extremely popular shape during the Roman Period, it is debated whether or not the bottles were actually used to hold tears, possibly being used for perfumes and medicines instead. For instance, bottles found during the Hellenistic Period (300 CE) were very large, about 11-25 cm tall, and therefore would not have been very practical to hold tears.

The story of tear bottles continued unabated. During Victorian Era funerals, lachrymatory were distributed for guests to catch their tears in. The bottles held special stoppers, and it is said that when the tears evaporated, the period of mourning was complete. Stories have also been found of soldiers during the U.S. Civil War leaving their wives with tear bottles as they departed for battle. It was hoped that the bottle would be full upon their return, to show their wives love and devotion.

Therefore, while the exact origin and historical use of bottles to catch tears still remains a mystery, it is certain that they were an important part of legend and popular culture of the time.

Please visit the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum to view some examples of Egyptian and Roman glass tear bottles in our Daily Life Gallery.

-- Jen Slauter, Docent

Ushabti of the Chief Sculptor, Men

Ushabti of the Chief Sculptor, Men
c. 1375 BCE
RC 2084
Fine limestone, pigment

This statuette of a man, named “Men” may have belonged to the father-and-son team of Men and Bak, who were court sculptors for the pharaoh Amenhotep III, and later his son, King Akhenaten and is one of the finest surviving examples of a miniature mummiform statuette.

This large, brightly colored figure is a fine example of how most Egyptian statuary originally looked. The beautiful color on this ushabti has survived intact for over three thousand years. The paint on most surviving Egyptian statues has worn away.

The word ushabti is ancient Egyptian and may also be seen written as shabti, ushebtis or shawabtis. Ushabti may have been derived from the Egyptian word Swb, "stick" originally, and perhaps reinterpreted as from Egyptian word wSb "answer," or "respond" in the first millennium BCE.

Ushabtis are small figures in human form inscribed with a special formula to be recited, most often from the Book of the Dead, or of figures representing the function expressed in that spell, namely, to carry out heavy manual tasks on behalf of a person in the afterlife.

This ushabti holds work tools in its hands and is inscribed with chapter 6 from the Book of the Dead and is currently on display in The Akhenaten Shrine Gallery (D) in the Rosicrucian Egyptian museum.

Roman Period Crocodile Lamp, RC 28

One of the oldest of the Egyptian deities is the crocodile-god Sobek. Sobek became widely worshipped in Egypt after the 12^th Dynasty, especially in the swamps and wetlands of Lower Egypt. Several temples were dedicated to the worship of this god including those at Kom Ombo, Medinet El-Fayum, and Gebelein. These temples often featured a shallow pool in which sacred crocodiles were kept. Upon death, they were mummified and interred in sacred coffins.

This bronze oil lamp honors Sobek and dates to the Roman Period (30 BCE-395 CE.) Two eyelets indicate it was intended for suspension from a rope or chain. It would have been filled with tallow using the hole on the crocodile’s back and would have been lit near the snout, where another hole can be observed. Bronze casting techniques were well developed throughout the ancient world by this period and this is reflected in the artist’s execution of the rough skin and serrated tail of this revered creature.

Hatshepsut Bead and Cylinder Seal, RC 1114

With the recent identification of the mummy of the pharaoh Hatshepsut, this remarkable ruler has once again captured the public’s attention. She ruled for approximately twenty two years, first as Regent for her step-son Thutmose III, and later as co-pharaoh with him. Although a female pharaoh was unusual in ancient Egypt, it was not entirely unprecedented, as history includes among the female rulers of Egypt, Pharaoh Sobeknefru who had reigned as a king of the 12th Dynasty, and others. This would later occur again, most notably in the case of the last ruling pharaoh, Cleopatra VII. Scholars are still studying the records for evidence of additional women rulers in Egypt’s ancient past. It has long been known that women in general held higher status in Egypt than in the lands surrounding it. This included the ability to own property, have an equal voice in legal proceedings, and having control of the household industries which produced linen, bread, beer, and other items vital to Egypt’s economic life. The Hatshepsut Bead and Cylinder Seal in the Museum’s collection came to us from the Rustafjaell estate in 1989. The tiny and elegant piece stands 2.3 centimeters high, made from glazed steatite metal (soapstone), blue on the cylinder base with a gold colored bead surmounting the small column. It is currently displayed in our Religion and Kingship Gallery (C) in the Museum. The cylinder body is engraved with Hatshepsut’s royal cartouche with her Prename, “Marat Ka Re,” that is, “Truth is the Ka of Re.” The Cylinder could have been used as a signature seal, and also as an amulet, as the name of the Pharaoh was considered to have great power for such uses.