As Silenos to Dionysos, Bes to the new godling Antinous. Bes is a giant to me!

10th August is Saint Bessus Day. This Christian saint is probably the Egyptian God Bes in disguise. Bessus protects soldiers against the dangers of battle, but is also invoked for fertility matters and one of his symbols is an ostrich feather. All of these features are attributes of the God Bes and his feminine counterpart, Beset, goddess of magic. Bes is associated with Antinous because a shrine to Bes was located on the shore of the Nile where Antinous died and where Hadrian founded the city of Antinoopolis. Subsequently, Bes intrigued Hadrian. Bes is depicted as a bearded dwarf wearing a crown of feathers, he is often naked, but sometimes wears a Roman soldier's tunic. Bes is a fun god. He is fiercely protective and a ferocious fighter, but also watches over the home and childbirth, and is a protector of children ... possibly a forerunner of Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus! Bes is one of the few Egyptian Gods who was always depicted full face and not in profile. He is the special patron of entertainers and loves music, dancing and making jokes as well as the pleasures of sex. His feminine aspect, Beset, is often depicted on hippo tooth magic wands.