Bes is the God of dwarves as well as the protector of households, especially mothers and children. One of the ugliest and most popular gods in Ancient Egypt, Bes had the power to scare off evil spirits. He often appeared on amulets and in sculptures as a hairy little man with a lion-like bearded mane, a pug nose, a protruding tongue and bow shaped legs. He wears a tiara made of bird feathers and his clothes are made from the skin of the panther. Egyptians believed that dwarves (and other people who were born different) were inherently magical and so Bes was considered extremely good luck. He had superhuman powers and hence watched over people who needed protection from evil and hence people would invoke his presence for their safety. Alongwith his wife Beset, the couple was worshiped for child birth by women.

People placed the statue of Bes in their rooms or over their bed to protect them and prevent bad dreams. Everyone in Egypt believed that honouring Bes would bring luck, prosperity and health. Bes is also depicted as a deity in dancing or laughing or singing form and was said to be entertaining kids invisibly. So when a child was seen smiling or laughing alone, people thought that they were enjoying with Bes.

Bes has a complex side to his personality as he is considered as a deity as well as a demonic spirit and has no temple in his name. But despite this dark side, Bes was always considered as responsible protector of families. He was believed to keep families and especially children free from evil spirits possessing their bodies, he would kill poisonous snakes and also help women when they were in labour by guarding their delivery and birth process. His name origin also has a linkage to cat who is also popular in human households and hence some mythological texts also depict him as a feline God.