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In ancient Egyptian religion and mythology, Khnum (also spelled Khnemu, Khnoumis, Chnuphis, Chnemu, or Chnum) was a ram-headed creation god who shaped human beings on his potter’s wheel. Associated with the god Ptah of Memphis, who was believed to have fashioned heaven and earth on a potter’s wheel, Khnum was credited with molding the great cosmic egg that contained the sun and shaping all the world’s people on his own potter’s wheel. His name means “molder.” He is also associated with the goddess Maat (truth) and Thoth, the divine scribe. The center of his worship during the New Kingdom was at Elephantine, the region the ancient Egyptians believed was the source of the Nile River. He was called Lord of the First Cataract, and his companion goddess, Satet, was worshiped at Elephantine before him.

Originally, Khnum may have been a goddess rather than a god. He is known to have been worshiped as early as 3000 bc. His place in the pantheon evolved through Egyptian history, but he was always considered an important deity. The New Kingdom funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Dayr al-Bahri contains a portrait of the god Khnum fashioning the body and soul of the queen at his potter’s wheel. As late as ad 300 his image appeared on papyri and gnostic gemstones.

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