Image Details

Drawing courtesy of Dr. Ze’ev Meshel and Avraham Hai/Tel Aviv University Institute of Archaeology

Beck interpreted the appendages between the figures’ legs, which appear in the 1982 drawing, as the tails of the lion skin garments they are wearing. But as soot faded from the pottery over time, it became clear that the smaller Bes had nothing between its legs, and the drawing was updated accordingly, this time without the appendage. This may change the whole interpretation of the scene, say the editors of this volume. Some will now see the two Bes figures as a god-and-goddess couple, although the editors of this book do not go so far.

Also visible is an inscription that runs through the crown of the Bes figure on the left. It reads in Hebrew, “I have [b]lessed you to YHWH [Yahweh] of Shomron [Samaria] and his asherah.” Because it runs through the crown of the Bes figure, it must be dated later.