An Analysis of Ancient Egyptian Bronze and Faience Bells Depicting the God Bes, Animal Heads, and Other Divine Symbols

Bronze and faience bells decorated with high-relief animal heads or divine symbols, or in some cases shaped as an entire Bes-head, are found in many museum collections. Most of these bells are tentatively dated and the meaning of their iconography is unexplored. This paper identifies and interprets the iconography of four ancient Egyptian bell classes using data surveyed from archaeological reports, museum catalogues, online museum records, and other publications. Bells with multiple animal heads are presented as composite amulets that incorporate Amun-Re’s hidden ba -powers with recognisable amuletic motifs, possibly related to Amun-Re’s funerary role. The apotropaic and mediatory qualities of Bes-head-shaped bells are identified and considered suitable for domestic magical practice or as votives. Plain-walled bells with Bes at the apex further signify the god as primary mediator of apotropaic sound. Finally, quadrangular bells with phalli possibly relate to Dionysiac or Egyptian cultic festivities.