Latest news with #Bes
CairoScene
5 days ago
- CairoScene
Egypt Repatriates 11 Smuggled Artefacts From New York
The recovered items span several periods of ancient Egyptian civilisation, including a funerary mask and a Bes-shaped vessel. Jun 05, 2025 Egypt has recovered 11 ancient artefacts that were illegally trafficked to the United States, as part of its continued efforts to safeguard national heritage and repatriate looted antiquities. The items were formally handed over to the Consulate General of Egypt in New York following a joint investigation led by US authorities. The retrieval was the result of close coordination between Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the New York District Attorney's Office. Among the most notable objects are a vessel shaped like the ancient deity Bes, dating between 650 and 550 BCE, and a Roman-era funerary mask of a young man. Also recovered was a vividly coloured wall relief from the New Kingdom depicting the upper part of a human figure inscribed with hieroglyphs. The collection further includes a tombstone from the 3rd–4th century CE, a 19th-century inscribed vessel bearing Arabic script, and a number of other culturally important items.
Middle East
6 days ago
- Middle East
OPEN// Egypt recovers 11 smuggled artifacts via cooperation with the US
CAIRO, June 4 (MENA) – Egypt's Consulate General in New York has recovered a collection of 11 Egyptian artifacts thanks to close cooperation with the New York County District Attorney's Office, US law enforcement authorities, the foreign ministry's cultural sector, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates on Wednesday. The move comes as part of the Egyptian State's continued efforts to preserve its cultural heritage and recover smuggled Egyptian artifacts, the ministry said in a statement. The restored artifacts comprise a remarkable collection of historically significant antiquities that were smuggled out of Egypt in recent years. US authorities traced and seized them in preparation for their repatriation to Egypt, it added. The collection includes a vessel of the god Bes, dating back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt (circa 600 B.C.), a pendant in the shape of the head of Horus dating approximately between 300-700 B.C., and the head of a Roman-era statue dating between the 1st and 4th centuries. (MENA) I S N/S R E
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Apollo Art Auctions Presents: Fine Ancient Art, Antiquities & Jewellery
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. LONDON, March 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apollo Art Auctions is delighted to announce its upcoming Fine Ancient Art, Antiquities & Jewellery auction, set to take place on March 29th at 1pm GMT. This highly anticipated event will feature an extraordinary collection of ancient marbles, jewellery, seals, and antiquities. The sale is honoured to present pieces coming from the collections of Charles Ratton & Guy Ladrière, Dr. W. Benson Harer, P. Vérité, Kurt Deppert, Suzanne Tardivat, Georges Halphen, Taher Khorassani, Borowski, Donald Wonder, James Wolfensohn, Dr. Ulrich Müllerb and Philip Mitry. The sale will be held live at our Central London showroom (63–64 Margaret Street, W1W 8SW) and online via the Apollo Art Auctions platform. Items in the auction come from a vast range of cultures, including outstanding pieces from Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, Viking, Medieval European, and Western Asiatic civilizations. Each lot has been carefully curated to highlight the remarkable artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage of the ancient world. Auction Highlights:Lot 10 – Rare Egyptian Gold Bes PendantA stunning Ancient Egyptian gold pendant, depicting Bes, the god of protection, fertility, and household blessings. Bes was a beloved figure in Egyptian, Persian, and Achaemenid cultures and often appeared in amulets, jewelry, and decorative art. Lot 86 – Apulian Bell Krater Depicting a Rider on a Panther (Attributed to the Black Thyrsus Painter)Attributed to the Black Thyrsus Painter, this Apulian red-figure bell krater captures the Dionysian spirit through its depiction of a rider on a panther. In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, theatre, and revelry, is often portrayed riding a panther to symbolise the untamed and ecstatic nature of his cult. Bell kraters were used in Greek symposia for mixing wine and water, making them essential pieces for social and ceremonial gatherings. Lot 93 – Rare Roman Marble Portrait Head of Marcus CrassusAn imposing Roman marble portrait head believed to represent Marcus Licinius Crassus, one of Rome's wealthiest statesmen and a key figure in the First Triumvirate alongside Julius Caesar and Pompey. Known for his immense fortune and military prowess, Crassus played a crucial role in Roman history, including his infamous campaign against Spartacus' slave revolt. This grand-scale portrait, likely once part of a public monument or private villa, reflects the artistic and political significance of Roman portraiture. Lot 97 – Very Rare Attic Bronze HelmetThis magnificent Attic bronze helmet would have been worn by Greek warriors, possibly during battles fought in the Peloponnesian War or against the Persian Empire. Attic helmets were favored for their sleek design, practicality in battle, and symbolic representation of military valor. Lot 114 – Greek Gold Ring with Sphinx and AmphoraThis exquisite Greek gold ring, dating from 400–300 BC, features an intricately detailed sphinx crouching beside an amphora. The sphinx, with its muscular hind legs, curled tail, and outstretched wings, embodies the mystery and wisdom associated with this mythological guardian. Its finely sculpted profile and beaded necklace showcase the artistry of the ancient Greek goldsmiths. The amphora, a vessel commonly used for storing wine and oil, adds a further symbolic element to the piece, possibly linking it to trade, wealth, or ritual practices. Lot 398 – Akkadian Lapis Lazuli Cylinder SealA stunning Akkadian cylinder seal carved from lapis lazuli, a stone deeply associated with royalty, divinity, and power in Mesopotamian culture. These seals were used for legal, administrative, and religious purposes and often depicted elaborate mythological scenes. The choice of lapis lazuli underscores the extensive trade networks of the Akkadian Empire as it would have been sourced from the distant mines of Western Asia. Preview and Bidding Information:All auction lots will be available for private preview by appointment only at our Central London showroom from March 24th–28th, 2025 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m. GMT). Our expert team ensures that each artifact is prepared for professional in-house shipping. For inquiries or to schedule a preview, contact:enquiries@ 7424 994167 Join the Live Auction on March 29th at 1 p.m. GMTFor full auction details and to explore the complete catalogue, visit: Apollo Art Auctions:
CairoScene
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
A Brief, Humorous History of Egyptian Jesters & Clownery
If you've been feeling like a clown lately, know that you're honouring an almost-5,000 year old Egyptian tradition. Clowns are ubiquitous, and the term 'clown' is pretty much all-encompassing. You have birthday clowns, circus clowns, and you might even know a post-summer 2024 situationship clown, but that's a story for another time. So what make-eth clown? And what do clowns even have to do with Egypt? Well, you'll be amused to find out that the earliest ancestors of modern-day clowns were juggling about in ancient Egypt as early as the Fifth Pharaonic Dynasty, around 2,400 BCE, give or take. So, what did those clowns look like? Contrary to popular belief, these clowns did not don outrageously large and shiny red noses, nor did they flop around in equally ridiculous oversized clown shoes. In fact, the earliest clowns dressed as gods, and in ancient Egyptian courts, they were regarded as such. Clowns in ancient Egypt didn't just perform for a simple laugh or act as dinner entertainment; they were essentially a theatre troupe, re-enacting the myths of Egypt's deities. One group that was central to this form of entertainment were 'Pygmies', individuals of short stature – and lower classes – often hailing from neighbouring African countries. This act of bigotry under the guise of entertainment may be outrageous to some of us today, yet such treatment of physically unique individuals as spectacles for entertainment was a running theme across various cultures for millenia, lasting well into the 20th century. In ancient Egypt, these pygmy jesters dressed in leopard skins and wore a variety of animal masks, often depicting mythological-but-not-really-mythological-then figures. One such figure is Bes, the deity of dance, battle and 'maskhara', as Egyptian actor Adel Emam famously notes in the 2004 Egyptian cult-classic film 'Arees Men Geha Amneya'. Their outlying physical traits became part of the spectacle, intertwining humour with a novel fascination for the unusual. Over time, clowns' roles blurred with those of Egyptian priests, as they often performed religious stories, rites and re-enacted divine tales in ways that held spiritual significance for the courts of the pharaohs. 'In addition to these clown figures who served in ancient royal courts, organized clown societies have served socio-religious functions for their communities. These clown societies were stable institutions fulfilling a cultural psychological need,' writes Michael Bala, a Jungian analyst and depth psychology educator, in his article 'The Clown: An Archetypal Self-Journey' (2010). Clowns' prominence in the royal courts of ancient Egypt naturally led to the creation of one of the world's earliest forms of the circus. The first concept of a circus is also believed to have originated during the ancient Egyptian Empire. Performances included feats of juggling, which weren't just slated for entertainment but meant to induce a deeply meditative ambiance, bringing varying sectors of society together, a movement simultaneously taking place across a myriad of Old World cultures. These aforementioned jesters were depicted in hieroglyphs dating back 5,000 years. Some of the very earliest of these were discovered in the Beni Hasan cemetery complex in a provincial governor's tomb. Yet these depictions showcase individuals who do not fall under the same descriptors as their short-statured counterparts, signifying an evolution in what would come to be known as clownery, as many more strata of social classes would pursue the act as a form of respected art. It wasn't all the theatrics we have today, but it was something, so we'll cut them some slack. Today, clowns in Egypt have taken on a completely different form, and that's aside from the average Bumble match history. Walking the streets of Cairo today, you may encounter a clown in the form of a person in a panda suit on proverbial acid living their best life at a street-style wedding. You may dance with a gorilla at your friend's bachelor party, and you may even catch a glimpse of a contortionist troupe putting on a show in an unassuming Cairene alleyway. Though names may differ, and performances may vary, one fact remains indisputable: to clown, at the very core of the notion, is to bring joy, and that has always been an Egyptian area of expertise. So this Valentine's Day, you go ahead and clown yourself out, knowing that you're making someone happy, even if that someone is not you.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AM Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook to Positive for Members of Arbella Insurance Group
OLDWICK, N.J., January 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has revised the outlook to positive from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICRs of "a" (Excellent) of Arbella Mutual Insurance Company and its three pooled insurance entities: Arbella Protection Insurance Company, Arbella Indemnity Insurance Company and Covenant Insurance Company (Farmington, CT). These companies are collectively known as Arbella Insurance Group (Arbella). The outlook of the FSR is stable. All companies are domiciled in Quincy, MA, unless otherwise specified. The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect Arbella's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The revised Long-Term ICR outlook to positive from stable is based on Arbella's key operating performance metrics coming into line with strong assessed rating units within its private passenger standard auto and homeowners composite on both a five-year and 10-year average basis. Additionally, Arbella has reported significantly improved underwriting results and operating performance in 2024, which were driven by management's numerous pricing, underwriting and claims initiatives. Arbella maintains very strong balance sheet strength, reflective of its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), modest underwriting leverage measures relative to its composite, strong liquidity measures, consistently favorable loss reserve development and a conservative investment risk profile. The balance sheet is protected from significant weather-related events through a comprehensive catastrophe reinsurance program. The group's risk-adjusted capitalization has trended upward recently from exposure reduction initiatives and increased catastrophe reinsurance coverage purchases. AM Best assesses Arbella's business profile as neutral, reflective of its long-standing market presence and market expertise in Massachusetts, strong distribution network and experienced management team. Arbella's ERM is assessed as appropriate for its risk profile, which is driven by its established ERM structure, refined risk management processes and comprehensive reinsurance program, which mitigates tail risk. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on Contacts Kenneth Tappen Senior Financial Analyst +1 908 882 2389 Christopher Sharkey Associate Director, Public Relations +1 908 882 2310 Christopher Draghi Director +1 908 882 1749 Al Slavin Senior Public Relations Specialist +1 908 882 2318 Sign in to access your portfolio
