Bes burst into the Egyptian pantheon in the New Kingdom and remained popular into the Roman period. Although visually we are awash with sources, little was written about him in antiquity, and it is not until the Roman time period that a temple may have been created to him. This lecture will examine the evolution of the god in terms of iconography, function, and distribution. Depicted as a composite deity, encompassing leonine and dwarfish features, he was fearful, slightly grotesque but often humorous. These qualities endeared him to the populace, to kings and non-Egyptians abroad. His protection spanned multi-dimensions, including the home, sleep, the gods and the netherworld. His artillery was music, dance, weapons, and face-pulling.
Joanne completed her PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2016.
Her research focuses on the representation of women in ancient Egypt. However, she has a wider interest in the art of ancient Egypt and the evolution of style. She has lectured on the material culture of ancient Egypt for over ten years, in a variety of institutions and more recently online.
She is also Chair of Wirral Ancient Egypt Society
We have an exciting and diverse series of lectures
covering a wide range of topics and these are listed below
We are having two evening Zoom on-line meeting in April & Sept
𓇼 𓇼 𓇼 𓇼 2026 𓇼 𓇼 𓇼 𓇼
January 12th , 2pm
Michael Tunnicliffe
Egypt in the Byzantine Period AD 395-640
February 9th, 2pm
Dr Gina Muskett
Royal Travellers to Egypt in the 1860s
March 9th, 2pm
Claire Ollett
Howard Carter: Wonderful Things
Wednesday April 1st Zoom 7pm
Dr Heidi Köpp-Junk
Nefertiti on her Chariot: Warfare and
Civilian Use of the Egyptian Chariot
May 11th, 2pm
Rachel Mary Wright
An Artist’s View of Amarna
June 8th, 2pm
Dr Violaine Chauvet
'Updates from excavations at the Temple of Mut, Karnak'
July 13th, 2pm
Dylan Bickerstaffe
The Great God Min: His Attributes, Centres,
Ceremonies and Festivals
August 10th, 2pm
Dr Joanne Backhouse
Bes: Dancer, Reveler and Demon Fighter
Wednesday Sept 2nd Zoom 7pm
Dr Cedric Gobeil
News from inside the Tomb: The Latest Museo Egizio’s projects in and around Deir-el Medina
October 12th, 2pm
Dr Glenn Godenho
Art and Architecture at the End of the Old Kingdom
November 9th , 2pm
Dr Nicky Nielsen
New Discoveries from the City of The Snake Goddess
December 14th, 2pm
Dr Ashley Cooke
AGM, Presidential Lecture & Christmas buffet
- - MEMBERS ONLY - -
BOOK SALES
At each Society meeting held in Mayer Hall a selection of Egyptology books is available for sale at very reasonable prices.