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Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art: Headrest with Two Images of the God Bes

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Headrest with Two Images of the God Bes

The deity depicted on this headrest was believed to protect the dead and the living, particularly women during pregnancy and childbirth, and young children. Although headrests were used during life, they could also be placed in the tomb later to aid the deceased's rebirth into the afterlife. Most Egyptian headrests have come from tombs, where the conditions were better for their preservation.

Medium: Wood
Place Found: Saqqara, Egypt
Dates: ca. 1539-1190 B.C.E.
Dynasty: XVIII Dynasty or early XIX Dynasty
Period: New Kingdom
Dimensions: 7 x 11 1/4 x 3 in. (17.8 x 28.6 x 7.6 cm)
Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art
Museum Location: This item is not on view
Accession Number: 37.435E
Credit Line: Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Image: Front, 37.435E_front_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007

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