Khnum

**Khnum**


 * Other Names:**

Khenmew, Khnemu, Chnum, Hmnw


 * Meaning of Name:**

His name comes from the Egyptian word //khnem// (“join” or “to build”)

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 * Hieroglyphics:**


 * Titles:**

“Divine Potter”

"Lord of Destiny"

“Maker of Heaven and Earth and the //Duat// and Water and the Mountains”

"Lord of Crocodiles"

“Potter of Mankind”

“Lord of the Cool Waters”

//Keb-H// ("He Who Purifies")

“Lord of Created Things From Himself”

//Neb-ta-ankhtet// (“Lord of the Afterlife”)

//Nehep// ("The Creator")

//Sekhet-ashsep-f// ("Weaver of His Light")


 * Family:**

He was thought to be the father of Anuket and Heka, and the husband of Satis. Khnum was sometimes considered to be the son of Sobek, and the husband of Neith, Menhit, or Heket. On some occasions he was thought to have been created by Ptah.

An ancient creator and water god, the guardian of the source of the Nile. Khnum was closely associated with the annual flooding of the Nile - he was thought of as the god who poured out the river. The Egyptian gods were offered symbols of their power - the king offered Khnum libations of water, and he in turn ensured that the Nile flowed. Khnum also presided over the hazardous Nile cataracts. Khnum was thought to form babies out of clay on his potter’s wheel, placing them into their mother’s bodies. His wheel was spun to remake the cosmos every morning. Hymns sung at his festivals praised the "Lord of the Wheel" as the one "who fashioned gods and men." The patron of potters, Khnum was thought to protect craftsmen. Amulets of Khnum, made of faience, wood, gold, lapis lazuli, and glass, were popular.

Khnum was shown as a man with the head of a ram with corkscrew horns, wearing the Atef Crown or Two Feathers Crown, sometimes pouring out a jar of water, or as a ram-headed falcon. Occasionally Khnum was pictured with green skin, a reference to his power over fertility. Sacred white rams were kept in temples dedicated to Khnum, worshiped as an incarnation of the god, and mummified when they died.


 * Feast and Holy Days**

January 22 (Day of Making Way for Khnum)

May 12 (Holy Day of Khnum)


 * Quotes from the Book of the Dead and other sources:**

Hymns of Khnum


 * Egyptian Names Honoring This Deity:**

Khnumemheb, Perenkhnum, Khnumet, Khnumteri, Khnumnakht, Khnumhotep ("Khnum is Satisfied"), Khnummose ("Born of Khnum"), Khnumwaset ("Khnum is Powerful"), Khnum-khufu (“Khnum Protects Him”)


 * Outside o****f Egypt:**

Khnum always was an important god and he remained so even in some semi-Christian sects during the 2nd or 3rd century C.E.

Egyptian Deities - K