Ancient Egyptian Mythology

The Gods of Ancient Egypt...

KHNUM

Egyptian Creator God

Also known as Chnemu, Chnoumis, Chnum, Chnuphis, Kemu, Khem, Khnemu, Knouphis, Knum

Picture of the Egyptian Creator God Khnum from our Egyptian mythology image library. Illustration by Chas Saunders.

Nile-based God of Creative Pottery

A Creator Deity of the Earth, he lives on the Nile and uses the local mud to create humans on his potter’s wheel, shaping the clay as it turns around and around. If you ever get dizzy spells, that’s probably why.

When a clay baby is finished, he sneaks it into the mother’s womb with the help of his wife and nature takes its course. Which shows that the ancient Egyptians weren’t silly enough to believe all that nonsense about storks and cabbage patches.

His wife is sometimes identified as the froggy Goddess of Childbirth Heket, but that’s more of a local fling. His main wife/girlfriend/significant other is Satet, who lives with him in his temple at Elephantine along with Anuket. Together they form a holy threesome – after all three gods are better than one.

As a Creator God of the Nile, he controls the annual flooding and also offers fertility services. That’s plant fertility, animal fertility and human fertility. He offers fertilizer by the bucketload, does amazing things with bullocks and may even have a special deal on Viagra.

Tracking down the variations of his name has caused us no end of confusion. It’s enough to make one’s mind go knumb.

Khnum Facts and Figures

Name: Khnum
Pronunciation: Coming soon
Alternative names: Chnemu, Chnoumis, Chnum, Chnuphis, Kemu, Khem, Khnemu, Knouphis, Knum

Gender: Male
Type: God
Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present

Role:
In charge of: Creating
Area of expertise: Creation

Good/Evil Rating: Unknown at present
Popularity index: 9459

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Article last revised on November 12, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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