The Temple of Bes at Bawiti in the Bahariya Oasis

God ancient Egyptian, Bes, who may not have originated in Egypt, but there is no doubt that God becomes a pure Egyptian, was a series of features that have changed over time. In the Kingdom of age, has been shown to be associated with fertility, and the rite of circumcision and the harvest is different. East of the Kingdom has become the guardian of the home and children, new mothers, and was the patron of pregnant women. Over time, and described as a dwarf have become common, and sometimes appear with a drum or tambourine, play the flute or dancing in the role associated with joy, sex, and recreational activities. In Greco-Roman, his appearance has become more dangerous, and often appear with knives and swords, and thus assumes the role of protector in the war against the forces of evil.
However, during the Greco-Roman period in the oasis of Bahariya, and may have been honored by his fun بس previous relevant attributes, and newspaper Bawiti, an important community in the oasis, and was the god of wine grapes and dates. Importance of these products in the region is evident in the only known temple dedicated to Pace in Egypt.
This temple was discovered by a resident of El Bawiti in 1988 and will be discoveries in Egypt, is relatively recent. This person found a piece of basalt inscribed in the old part of Bawiti, which led to the seniority of the local authorities to investigate the site. Strikingly, this tool has been carved with the cartridge of Akhenaten, and is the only evidence of this heretic pharaoh that was found in the oasis.
This temple dates from Greek times, but there is evidence that the temple worship and exploitation in the Horn of 4th. Over the ruins of some forty to sixty by the feet, oriented north and south, and were made of mud brick on a block of limestone.
Originally, there seems to be a slope or road, and perhaps full Sphinx, which leads to the northern entrance of the temple. Parts of the sphinxes were discovered, and Dr. Hawass, who investigated the site, and thought it was probably destroyed by the early Christians from the oasis. Entry is communicated with a long corridor that perhaps the public space to wear worship. In the floor of this room plaster statue of Bes, discovered in three parts. It's probably the best preserved of the statue of the god were found in Egypt, which is about four feet, with properties that are carved and still show traces of the original paint used to decorate the figure.
Here, also discovered copper vessels that can occur at the beginning Pace offered (including, no doubt, some of the best wines produced in the oasis). There is a small door leading out of the hall, a ramp into a kind of axis, apparently of water used for religious purposes.
The main entrance and behind the hall was a sanctuary surrounded by private rooms and annexes. However, there is evidence to suggest that this section of the church at the outset in the form of two main became the youngest of nine rooms at the end of the Romanian.
There are a number of artifacts discovered within the campus. Including the number ceramics, is supposed to be al-Shabi, but with a tight dress and adorned with a beard and a real fake. This number had worked with her hands on his chest and his fist in the air held a tool in the form of a hieroglyph of the pyramid. Amulet of copper is also in the form of a cat sitting next to a miniature statue of Horus. In addition, it was to find a set of panel of sandstone with two concentric circles. Within these circles were depressions small pieces that play probably a decade. Side by side with the game, game dice with faces numbered one through six were also found.
Other items found in the sanctuary of copper and include two bowls, one of which was decorated with plants. This may have been used to store wine, but the last of the brass plate on three legs might have been used for burning incense. Finally, it was the discovery of a pot of red mud of the River Nile, which is probably due to the late third or fourth century.
Egyptian بس God was important to some extent, and pointing out that this is the only known temple dedicated to him in Egypt, and the site is of great importance. In fact, was discovered some other effects in the oasis, where the numbers and the festival there are undoubtedly making it one of the key areas for the worship of this god.