#divine potter (khnum)

[sol-ulfr]

Merytmwtheryt -> Sölulfr

For reasons that I will be keeping personal for the most part, I will be leaving the Kemetic Pagan path and moving to a more Norse-centered one. This means I won't be posting Kemetic-related things anymore. I'm very sorry if that's what you primarily follow me for! But for me it's time to move on to something else.

I will be adding all of my Kemetic tags to this post so you can see things about specific Kemetic deities or topics if you would like to.

Thank you to everyone who has joined me on my journey so far! It's been a pleasure, and I hope you stick around 💕

[milky-rozen]

Khnum, the artisan god of the Nile, is one of the primordial gods who was said to have given the human race its shape. Patron of all arts, the divine potter is also the kind protector of the sacred river as it produces an abudance of clay, which he uses to craft anything his creative mind desires. He seems to be very popular in some parts of Kemet, where people prefer his art more than Ra's! Despite that, Khnum is a very humble God who likes to create for the sake of making the world a more beautiful place.

[thegodstheycall]

"The final ritual of the celebrations invokes Khnum to transfer his creative powers to women, in whom the mythic activity of the potter's wheel will ensure the perpetual conception of the human race. The following spell is found on column 12 at Esna: Utterance for setting up the potter's wheel in the bellies of all women: Words spoken: 'O divine potter, who creates the egg upon your wheel: may you set up the potter's wheel within the uterus, providing the womb with your (own) image.' It is Khnum himself who actively takes a part in this fashioning within the womb. While his role can be expressed as that of a sexual consort, the fertility of women is also described as the result of his celestial activity at the potter's wheel: 'May you model on the wheel in heaven, making potter's work on earth, so that children are brought to life within the wombs of their mothers by the action of your arms.'"

- Creation on the Potter's Wheel at the Eastern Horizon of Heaven, Peter F. Dorman

Published in Gold of Praise: Studies on Ancient Egypt in Honor of Edward F. Wente, pg. 96

[lollipencil]

High Tide

I had to, this post filled my head with ideas that would not leave. So, let's see how it goes.

Enjoy and be gentle.

---

The explosion barely registered to Marc. Only the water that swallowed him soon after. Soothing and burning his injuries as he sank down, down, down.

For a moment, terror filled Marc's mind as he watched the light above fade. Then, it passed. He felt calm, peaceful. Marc could feel all those years of killing like an anchor chained to his heart. "RoRo," he dared to think his name, after everything he'd done, "Take...me...home."

There was no more fear in him. Only the cold well in his lungs, the sting of burnt and salt-washed flesh, the feeling of coming to rest on two pieces of stone, and the reassurance that Marc would never hurt anyone else ever again as he slipped away.

---

"Is this really how you want this to end?" a voice punctured the darkness around Marc, "All that potental, for nothing?" "Who are you?" Marc asked. "I am many things," the voice thundered lowly, "Divine Potter. Lord of created things from himself. Ruler over all water. I am Khnum, and I speak to all of you."

"What?" Panic shot through Marc as Steven's voice suddenly emerged, "What's happening?" "Mierda," someone Marc definitely did not know groaned, "I go to sleep for a week, and this happens?" "Who the hell are you?!" "Enough!" Khnum demanded, "This argument is irrelevant. What does, is how we go from here."

"I don't understand, what's happening?" Steven pleaded. "The body the three of you shared is dead. But it does not have to stay that way." "What does that mean?" the other voice carefully pressed in the wake fo Steven's shock. "I mold human bodies from clay, have done so for millennia. Should the three of you permit it, I would take your flesh into my hands and mold the body anew."

At each word, light began to fill the world again. Before Marc's eyes, a ram-headed figure appeared, holding Marc, Steven, and a third mustached individual in his cupped hands. "What's the catch?" Marc frowned up at the horned figure. "I would ask that, in exchange, you become my avatar, my voice and hands among the mortals. Do you agree?"

"Yes, I won't let it end here," the third vowed instantly. "I don't want to die," Steven muttered softly, "Ok, I'll do it." Marc's silence was loud.

Khnum's head turned fully towards Marc: "And do you say Marc Spector? Will you return to life?" "I've hurt so many people," he eventually admitted mournfully, unable to look up. Khnum hummed. "Indeed," he nodded, "Yet, here you have a chance. A chance to no longer be that person. A chance for change. A chance for Marc Spector to be better. Will you take it?"

Marc's vision filled with water. It was a long shot, the longest of long shots. But, god help him, he wanted it. "Yes," Marc choked out finally. "Then go, and be reborn," Khnum's hands covered them totally, and the darkness returned.

---

All of a sudden, the darkness became tangable. Wrapped around the body like wet tissue paper but thicker. Moaning half in disgust and half at the lingering aches, Marc shifted around in the damp cacoon.

It tore quickly once Marc's fingernails got involved. Pulling great clumbs of it away, he squirmed out of its reach, grasping at the nearby rocks and looked about. A partly submurged statue of Khnum stood tall, outstretched arms still holding the mass of seaweed they had been mummified in. Various rocks and shells littered the ground but no other signs of life.

It took another few minutes before someone else stirred. "Why can't I move?" Steven's discomfort filled the head. "Because you aren't in control right now," the third tried to sooth, "You'll get your turn again, don't worry." "I hate this, I really hate this," Steven whimpered, "It feels like I can barely breathe."

The moment the word "breathe" was spoke in their mind, a thought hit Marc like a flaming truck. It made him open his mouth to gasp, only proving the point further. Suddenly it was all he could think about. Water flowing into his mouth only to flow back out somewhere near his shoulders. Something between his fingers. A vague feeling of something over his eyes. And his legs-.

Marc darted stright up towards the surface. Didn't dare think about how fast he was going. About the now concerned voices sharing his head. About the motion his legs lower body was doing.

Breaching the surface was a shock. At the crisp chill of night air on flesh, at the sheer speed at which he shot out. At what the moonlight revealed when the body flopped onto the shore.

Dark blue scales replaced every inch of skin, the fingers that clung to the shore were webbed with claws growing where fingernails once were. Dread pulsing with his heart, Marc looked down. To see how the blue faded towards his middle into white, at the long serpentine tail that still lay in the Nile. Shaking hands rose to tenderly feel and find the gills that lined his throat. "What have you done?" Marc warbled around sharpened teeth, asking himself and the world in general.

"What I said I would," Khnum appeared, utterly unconcerned, "I have remolded the body." "Do you think this is funny?!" the third borderline shoved Marc aside to demand, gills flaring. "Funny?" Khnum tilted his head, "No. Only confusing." "Eh?" "That you aren't considering the possibilities presented here."

Gesturing to their hands, Khnum waited for them to realise. The third noticed instantly. What had been blue scales that paled to white, was now sliver with black patches like a koi fish. Starting to get where the god was going, the third placed his hand back on the shore and focused.

Instantly the scales warped until their colour matched the sand underneath. Even the claws shifted to the same pattern. "Now you're getting it," Khnum said with pride. Lifting his hand, the third watched the scale breifly mimiced the air around it before becoming "visible" again. "Besides," Khnum continued, "Who said that the body's forgetten what it originally looked like?"

The third's head snapped to attention. The thought of what the body once looked like floated up, and the body slowly changed. Nearly biting back a sob, he waited as scales seemed to fold underneath the skin, legs rapidly splitting off and reforming, and the teeth and nails bluntened once more.

Tears in their eyes, the third slipped away and Steven resurfaced. Swallowing thickly, he flexed his toes as questions surged without end. "I still don't understand," he admitted, looking to Khnum for guidence. "I know. Today has been an eventful day for all. But you all need rest. Return to my statue, answers will come with morning's light."

Wordlessly, Steven did as he was asked. Pausing briefly to note the contrast of the scarce amber-gold patches against dark green scales, before plunging back into the Nile.

[santoschristos]

I am part of Ra. I am his aspect in the underworld - a third of his personality. - Khnum. Khnumthe Divine Potter,Art above by rafael zanchetin

[kirk-goes-to-gallifrey]

Egyptian Gods Today (9/15) - Khnum

The Divine Potter, lord of created things, god of procreation, water and earth magics.

[onetechspot08]

Khnum: The Divine Craftsman of Egypt’s Ancient Mysteries

Title: Khnum: The Divine Craftsman of Egypt’s Ancient Mysteries

Introduction:

In the pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods, Khnum stands out as the divine craftsman, the master sculptor and potter who played a crucial role in the creation and shaping of life. Revered for his skillful craftsmanship, Khnum was a deity associated with fertility, the Nile River, and the mysteries of creation. In this exploration, we delve into the myths and significance surrounding Khnum, shedding light on the divine artisan who left an indelible mark on Egypt's rich tapestry of beliefs.

Khnum's Identity and Iconography:

Khnum, often depicted with the head of a ram, was a complex deity worshipped in various forms throughout ancient Egyptian history. The ram-headed god symbolized strength and virility, connecting him with the reproductive forces of nature. Frequently portrayed with a potter's wheel, he embodied the creative process and was often associated with the shaping of human beings from clay on his potter's wheel.

Creation Mythology:

One of the prominent roles of Khnum in Egyptian mythology was his involvement in the creation of humanity. According to ancient texts, Khnum was believed to mold human bodies on his potter's wheel, shaping them out of clay from the banks of the Nile. He then breathed life into these clay figures, giving them the essence of existence. This act of creation emphasized the intimate connection between the divine, the earthly, and the life-giving waters of the Nile.

Nile and Fertility Symbolism:

Khnum's significance extended beyond creation myths to the realm of fertility. The Nile River, central to Egyptian life, was considered the lifeblood of the region. Khnum was often invoked to ensure the river's annual flooding, which brought fertile silt and allowed for bountiful harvests. As the god of the inundation, he played a crucial role in the agricultural cycles, ensuring prosperity for the land and its people.

Cult Centers and Worship:

Khnum was worshipped at several cult centers in ancient Egypt, with the most notable being the Temple of Esna, located on the west bank of the Nile. The temple housed an annual festival dedicated to Khnum, during which worshippers would gather to pay homage to the god and seek his blessings for fertility, craftsmanship, and protection.

Syncretism and Association with Other Deities:

Over the centuries, Egyptian mythology witnessed the syncretism of deities, and Khnum was no exception. He became linked with other gods, such as Ra and Amun, further expanding his significance within the pantheon. In some representations, Khnum was portrayed as the one who created the sun god Ra and fashioned the solar disc. This amalgamation of deities showcased the interconnectedness of Egyptian cosmology.

Legacy and Influence:

Khnum's influence transcended the boundaries of mythology and religion, leaving an indelible mark on Egyptian art and culture. His imagery can be found on pottery, amulets, and temple reliefs, illustrating the enduring impact of this divine craftsman on the visual landscape of ancient Egypt.

Conclusion:

Khnum, the divine craftsman of Egypt, embodied the mystical connection between creation, fertility, and the sacred waters of the Nile. Through his role as the master sculptor, potter, and guardian of the river's inundation, Khnum held a special place in the hearts of ancient Egyptians. As we explore the myths and symbolism surrounding this enigmatic deity, we gain insights into the profound beliefs that shaped one of the world's most enduring civilizations.

[talonabraxas]

Khnum, the Divine Potter by rafael zanchetin

[drifting-pieces-blog-blog]

GOAT! 

I wanna talk about this little easter egg. It's been pointed out before by all those 'easter eggs you missed' things floating around. BUT there's more to it. 

Khnum: One of the earliest-known Egyptian deities. God of the source of the Nile, creator of the other deities, "Lord of created things from himself", "Divine Potter". 

The story is that he is the source of the Nile, thus the source of life giving himself. He created the gods and humans from the silt that washes down the Nile, thus he is the Divine Potter. Sometimes called both the father and mother of Ra. 

Depicted as a ram with twisting horns. 

Oh, you mean this guy? 

Intentionally there by filmmakers? Not really. If I recall correctly, they just happened to look up and saw a goat and went “GET THAT ON CAMERA” 

But in the story, this is amazing. Absolutely amazing. 

The god of gods and all creation and creator of people is there watching them seek the tomb of Ammit. Not just that, with the rock across the canyon like that, it is framed as a doorway, or an entrance to a temple or tomb. And this is where Marc and Steven are about to enter into the Duat. 

Khonshu isn’t there with them anymore. They have lost their protection. Marc and Steven are at the peak of their arguing and shutting each other out. The world is in danger and Ammit is about to be released. And here we have this goat sitting on top of a round almost world shaped boulder watching them enter this area. 

But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a goat in this series. 

Harrow’s little cult neighborhood has one. THE SAME TYPE. This time we only get a brief sorta shot of it. Off to the side, being controlled/restrained by one of Harrow’s people. Now, Harrow boasts about how this neighborhood grows their own food, shares everything, and is self sustaining for the most part. But why THAT type of goat? That doesn’t seem like something that would help them in any way. There’s no vegetation overgrowth for it to keep down. There are far better types of goats to get milk from. Are they going to eat the goat? Unlikely. 

Digging a little deeper into the goat’s performance (which I know is silly because it is an animal in a movie and it’s going to do what it bloody well wants but let’s ignore all that for a moment). We see the goat standing there watching Harrow and Steven approach. As they get closer, the person handling the goat has to grab a horn and hold it back. The goat then starts to bleat. 

Now as they walk by, Steven does his observant thing. “Goat”. Which apparently was an Oscar improve, catching Ethan off guard. BUT. But but but. 

Steven notices and points out the goat. 1. It’s a goat. I mean, how often do you see a goat in London. 2. It’s THAT type of goat and weird to see them have it. 3. Steven has a hyper focus and everything is related to that focus. Especially since he KNOWS now that Egyptian gods are involved, but not to what extent. So he sees a goat that looks like that and his mind is going, “Khnum?” 

So the significance of Harrow having it? He is essentially a cult leader. One of high religion and importance. He believes he must set the world right. He believes that he must rid it of evil. The goat is there to show his power. But the goat is protesting. 

AND STEVEN PERCEIVES IT FIRST. 

He points it out to Harrow. Harrow dismisses it. He didn’t notice it or the bleating and then he ignores it. He has the power there and he is above it. He is above protests. He is above what is right and wrong. Steven is not. Steven is morally grounded. 

So much of what Harrow is saying is just past Steven that he interrupts him to point out the oddity that is the goat. Harrow didn’t even notice then dismisses it and Steven just as easily. 

Now, I’m no expert on Egyptology.  I know you have the Ennead council here. You have the avatars and the statues by the chairs. But what about that LARGE head piece in the middle? The one with the curved horns?  

That doesn’t look like the traditional Ra who you might think would be big honcho here. But… That kinda looks like…

OH. Is that a theme I see popping up? CAUSE IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WITH A BIG BRAIN DOWN IN MOON KNIGHT LAND PRODUCTION HAS A SENSE OF THEME. I could be wrong. I really don’t know my Egyptology very well. If you know who that statue is supposed to be, please tell me... But I see a resemblance! 

In this particular scene, Steven is in the back while Marc is challenged and ignored by the other gods. Marc is laid open and wounded at their feet and disregarded much like Steven is by Harrow. The statue is there silent in the background overlooking all. 

This god just keeps popping up, specifically overlooking Marc and Steven in their struggles to be heard. In their struggles to communicate. In their struggles to find themselves. In the scene of the goat on the boulder, it stands on the whole world looking down on them wondering if they will overcome enough to save the world. To save themselves. 

And Steven is the one who first noticed it and pointed it out. He sees so much more than people think he does. He is always taking in everything around him. Wondering about connections and how they might affect him. Perhaps he too is being watched. Being perceived. 

[renegade-hierophant]

Khnum (ẖnmw), god of the source of the Nile. Since the annual flooding of the Nile brought with it silt and clay, and its water brought life to its surroundings, he was thought to be the creator of the bodies of human children, which he made at a potter's wheel, from clay, and placed in their mothers’ wombs. He was later described as having molded the other deities, and he had the titles “Divine Potter” and “Lord of created things from himself”.

“Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for god had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then god formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:5-7)

[wolfgangisdead]

for whom the sun rises

part one

moon knight (tv show)

Steven Grant x Oc, Marc Spector x Oc

enemies/frenemies to lovers (Marc), friends to lovers (Steven), Angst, fluff, potential ooc Steven, I'm essentially making this up as I go

NOTE there's been a change in Khnum's design, he'll be from now on described as having an actual ram head. It's easier to draw and seems more fitting for him as the Divine Potter. I also feel like I'm consistently going to not write Steven's personality well at all so if anyone has any tips on writing him better feel free to send them! I'm confident I'd be better with Marc. i feel like it's obvious this is my first fanfic in years lmao

Khnum is far more displeased by the idea of being in London than anything else. Millie knows him to be a quieter god, unlike others, and yet when they had first set foot in London, all he did was mention how horrid it was that it was grey and bleak. He'd rather be in Egypt, basking in the rays, or perhaps Rome or Greece, watching the 'idiots', as he put it, wrestle until someone is declared a winner.

"There is doubt in your mind, child, speak it before it destroys you," he follows behind her, visible to no one else except for her. It's a shame, really. A nearly nine foot behemoth of a ram, staring you down with his piercing goat-like eyes? Yeah, she's sure the humans would love that.

"we are in London and there's no tasks for me," she retorts with a frown, "I can't simply wait on Steven to be my friend, give me something to do."

"You want for something to do? You desire to fiddle and work? Then you shall," he says, but she knows there's a catch, "befriend Steven. You have so little friends, it is pitiful."

"Oh, you're an ass, I was already planning to befriend him anyway. He seems sweet, and so genuinely... lost? I just have a need to help him, okay? Like it's... why am I talking to a god that only I can see as if he's my best friend." She stares blankly, ignoring the way the people that walk past her send her odd looks. Just another delusional American to them, she supposes.

"Back in my youth, everyone had friends, but you? You have a man who looks upon you and wishes you were another," he replies, unbothered, "you must get out and socialize. Your apartment is not nearly as comfortable as you think."

Millie stares at him, but then she sighs heavily. Back in his day? Yeah, back in his fucking day you married at thirteen, had five kids by sixteen, and died by your late twenties, early thirties. He's older than sliced bread, women's rights, and cellphones. It's amazing he's even talking in a language she knows fluently.

"Do you think Set is in the market for an avatar? I think working for him would be fun." She hears Khnum snort from behind her.

"You don't have the heart to kill, child, why else do you think he left you?"

—

"You're sweet, Steven," Millie snorts, walking at his side after an evening getting the best steak in town. "You deserve better than that gift shop. You know so much, it's wasted if you aren't sharing it! Especially if the museum isn't even attempting to get their information correct!"

"I can't complain, a job's a job, after all," he shrugs lightly, "I like it. It's not so bad. What do you do?"

"I restored things in a museum, typically it was Egyptian artifacts, but I left after the world threw me some problems. Now I travel, do odd jobs here and there." She responds, biting her lip. "I can't imagine we could open a museum, eh? Just the two of us and all that? Your brains my restoration skills?"

His face flushes and he looks away. "N-No, no, I suppose not... Seems awfully expensive... Sounds like fun, though."

"Do you do anything outside of work?" She cocks her head to the side, inwardly cursing herself for being so prying. "I ask because it'd be nice to meet up again!"

"I research a lot, mainly Ancient Egypt, but I read poetry too. I've got a goldfish, Gus, he's my little one-finned wonder." The way he speaks of his fish reminds her of how dog owners speak of their pups. It's cute, really.

"Do you have a favorite poem?" She asks quietly, then she adds, "do you read poetry to your fish?"

Steven laughs at that. It's a quiet, reserved laugh almost, but he laughs all the same. "No, but should I? Do you think he'd like it? If I read to him?"

"Yeah, I think he would. Of course he might not remember it, goldfish don't have a long memory," she snickers, "but I think he'd like it all the same."

"You're telling the boy to talk to his fish? And here I thought your time with Marc was depressing."

"It's pathetic, innit? You seem to have such a wonderful life, and I'm just someone who talks to his fish... you must be bored." He looks away, as if he had gone through this same thing many times before.

"Why would it be pathetic? People talk to their dogs and cats, why not fish? It's charming," she muses, "hey, maybe I can get myself a fish! That way we can talk about our fishes!"

They walk for a while longer before they go separate ways for the night. He had walked her to her apartment, though, which was very sweet. But she can tell that he's reserved. Shy is an understatement, but she probably has enough energy for the both of them, anyway.

—

"You actually went out and bought a fish," Khnum muses, "you could have made one, you know. What is the point of being the avatar of the Divine Potter if you will not use the powers bestowed to you?"

Millie presses her face against the glass of the tank. "I used the powers to make money so I could afford the tank, that has to count for something. But it's cute, I think I understand why Steven talks to Gus."

"Because he has no friends and neither do you? Yes, I do think I understand now, too." He replies, eyes narrowed. One of his ears twitch out of annoyance. "Your duty is to create, Millicent. There is unease in the world of the gods, and while people destroy, you are here fraternizing with a fish. You are more suited to Tawaret. You are not normal, and you never will be. To pretend otherwise is to delude yourself and you are better than that."

His words remind her of the very same reason she and Marc never got along in the first place. She was bound to creation, Marc was bound to vengeance. Khonshu had no qualms against killint to get the revenge he deems necessary, but a god of creation? Khnum would never willfully allow for the loss of life. Creation, and pro-creation are his thing, not death and destruction. She could create beasts to kill on her behalf, but it does not change the fact that she would be killing. But she was never a killer and one day, her inability to kill almost cost Marc someone important.

"You remind me that I'm not a killer, but sometimes I wonder what it would take to kill a god."

"If you cannot be a hero without having to kill, how can you consider yourself any better than them?" His eyes pierce into her soul, dark and inquisitive. "He will never look upon you as an equal because you do not kill when he deems you must. So, simply show him what you are capable without killing."

"Like what? Beat the shit out of him and call it a day?" She turns to look at Khnum but there's no one but empty space and what looks like to be some sand.

So, he expects her to be strong enough not to kill and powerful enough to be equal to a man of vengeance? She can do that.

[sheena-isa-punkrocker]

The Other Gods

Okay so since Khonshu was imprisoned in stone and set on a wall with 9 other gods imprisoned plus the fact that we see Tawaret is the one sailing the boat when it should be Anubis so this made me think:

Who were the other gods and why are they imprisoned in stone? What did they do to be sentenced such a punishment? And then I saw at the end credits they show some of the stone statues! Which on one hand I recognize that they could've just put them there for Aesthetic BUT I'm very curious as to who we have here and started doing a little digging on who these gods might be!

Lets go left to right from the screen cap of the end credits:

Heqet was a deity whom was represented in the form of a frog or a half human half frog. She was the goddess of fertility, the flooding of the Nile and the last stages of childbirth. Most importantly is her husband/companion Khnum.

Khnum is the ram god that was the creator of human children as well as other deities. He is often depicted as half ram half man. His wife, Heqet, helped him create human children on his divine potter's wheel.

The snake god is a little tricky because there are 3 (or probably more) Egyptian deities that are snakes or have a snake head as one of their forms.

Meretseger is a goddess usually depicted with the head of a cobra. She was supposed to protect the Theban Necropolis which was an important site for burials. She was also the patron goddess of artisans and workers from Deir el-Medina.

Wadjet is also a goddess depicted with a cobra head. He represented Lower Egypt and once Egypt was unified she came to represent all of Egypt. From what I've read she seems to be a protective deity linked to Ra and pharoahs.

Nehebaku was a funerary god, he was one of the 42 deities that assisted in the weighing of the hearts. He was charged with giving souls ka and was viewed as a companion to Ra. He is often depicted as a half human half snake.

Apep is the Egyptian deity that embodied chaos. There are many stories of Apep battling Ra since he is the opponent of order and light. Now, I know he's usually depicted as just a serpent and not a half human half animal like the other deities mentioned here but I think it's possible , since Ammit is actually a crocodile-lion-hippo hybrid creature and the producers made her into a crocodile lady for the show, that they could've also taken artistic liberty with the depiction of Apep and make him a half human half serpent character.

Neith was a goddess depicted as a woman with a shield on her head. She was a creator deity that formed the universe and all it contains along with the cosmos, fate, wisdom, water, rivers, mothers, childbirth, hunting, weaving, and war.

Anubis is the deity that is probably the most recognizable out of the bunch here. He is depicted as a half jackal half human and is the god of death, mummification, the Underworld, etc.

Unfortunately I'm not sure what the ushabti behind Anubis is nor do I know how to even describe what it looks like so I can properly look it up. If anyone knows which god/dess is depicted there please add onto this post!

The last deity we see is Khepri.

Khepri was a scarab-faced deity involved in creation and rebirth. He is connect to the rising sun as it is believed he moved it across the sky. Khepri is also thought of as an aspect of Ra (Khepri as the morning sun, Ra as the midday sun, Atum as the setting sun).

There are articles that show close ups of the ushabtis on the wall that have identified which god/desses they are which can be read here: https://www.cbr.com/moon-knight-every-ushabti/

**In the case of the snake goddess, I know the articles state its Wadjet but I'm just exploring other options of what deity it could be since there are multiple snake deities in the Egyptian pantheon.

I also think it's extremely intriguing that all of these gods/goddesses help humans in some way whether it be childbirth, creation, the land or the afterlife yet they are imprisoned in stone. It makes me wonder what happened to them where they were sentenced to such a fate? Was there some major event that happened amongst the gods or is this just a conglomeration of punished gods over centuries?

If you have any thoughts or ideas please let me know by adding onto this post! I'd love to hear it!

[ravenkult]

Khnum, the Divine Potter by rafael zanchetin https://www.artstation.com/artwork/neB09

[unholyleaf]

So a new God has entered my life, and I've made some art for him! Dua Khnum! The divine potter!

[theink-drinker]

Khnum, also spelled Khnemu or Chnum, was a very ancient deity, predating Ra, and was widely worshipped from as early as the Pre-Dynastic period (≈ 6000-3150 BCE). Pyramid texts confirm that his worship was well established even at this early stage. The great builder pharaoh Khufu (built the Great Pyramid at Giza) was actually called ‘Khnum-Khufu’ meaning that Khnum was his protector. However, during this period, the cult and worship of Ra (or Re) was gaining traction and Ra’s popularity would come to eclipse Khnum. Khufu’s son and grandson (Khaf-Re and Menkau-Re) took names honouring Ra instead of Khnum. Over time aspects of Ra and Khnum have merged together so the two gods are often closely linked. Originally a water god, Khnum was thought to rule over all water, including the rivers and lakes of the Duat (the underworld). He was depicted holding a jar with water flowing from it showing his association with the source of the Nile. One of Khnum’s responsibilities was to ensure the Nile inundation each year, depositing fertile black silt on the river banks vital for a fruitful harvest. Some believe that this connection to fertile soil and the flooding of the Nile is why Khnum was also a fertility god. He was depicted as a ram-headed man as the ram was considered a very virile and potent animal. The Nile’s black silt also formed clay used for pottery. Known as the ‘Divine Potter’ he would often be depicted with a potter’s wheel. There's one creation myth that has Khnum shaping the great cosmic egg containing the sun and moulding all of creation on his potter’s wheel, including the first humans and the other gods. Khnum would create the body and ka (spirit) of all newborns and, after each child was born, Khnum would bestow a blessing on them - the gift of health. • • • #art #myart #illustration #drawing #procreate #digitalart #digitalillustration #digitaldrawing #digitalartist #digitalpainting #ipadart #artistoninstagram #artist #illustrationartists #illustrationart #procreateart #procreateillustration #ancientegypt #ancientegyptian #egyptian #playingcard #deckofcards #carddesign #playingcarddesign #mythology #egyptianmythology #god #khnum #pottery #thenile https://www.instagram.com/p/CQy5r90sYsC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[holidays-events]

Happy 🐣Quarantine 😷 Easter  🐇

🥀 🌷 💓🥚 🐣 🐥 🐰 🌹 🍫 💖🥕 🐇 💝  😷 🌸

Beyond Ishtar: The Tradition of Eggs at Easter

Don’t believe every meme you encounter. Scientific American Krystal D’Costa

Eggs occupy a special status during Easter observances. They're symbols of rebirth and renewal—life bursts forth from this otherwise plain, inanimate object that gives no hint as to what it contains. In this regard it is a handy symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it is is a symbol that has held this meaning long before Christianity adopted it.

 There is a meme that some people have rallied around and shared as a "truth" of Easter. It proclaims:

Easter was originally the celebration of Ishtar, the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility and sex. Her symbols (like the egg and bunny) were and still are fertility and sex symbols (or did you actually think eggs and bunnies had anything to do with the resurrection?) After Constantine decided to Christianize the Empire, Easter was changed to represent Jesus. But at its roots, Easter (which is how you pronounce Ishtar) is all about celebrating fertility and sex. 

Clearly, we all know that memes are the ultimate source of information—particularly when they makes a biting point about something or some group that is not particularly favorably viewed. But it is well known that under the Roman Empire, Christianity did indeed adopt the pagan rituals of conquered peoples in an effort to help convert them. It worked pretty well as a strategy as it allowed the conquered peoples to continue a semblance of their observances as they remembered, and with time the population would be replaced with those who only knew the new traditions. This is not a secret. However, there are a few things wrong with the Ishtar meme that a simple Google search will turn up:

Ishtar was the goddess of love and war and sex, as well as protection, fate, childbirth, marriage, and storms—there's some fertility in there, but as with Aphrodite, there is also an element of power. Her cult practiced sacred prostitution, where women waited at a temple and had sex with a stranger in exchange for a divine blessing (and money to feed hungry children or pay a debt).

Ishtar's symbols were the lion, the morning star, and eight or sixteen pointed stars—again, symbols of power.

The word Easter does not appear to be derived from Ishtar, but from the German Eostre, the goddess of the dawn—a bringer of light. English and German are in the minority of languages that use a form of the word Easter to mark the holiday. Elsewhere, the observance is framed in Latin pascha, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew pesach, meaning of or associated with Passover. Ishtar and Easter appear to be homophones: they may be pronounced similarly, but have different meanings.

Our helpful meme places the egg in Ishtar's domain, but Ishtar doesn't seem to be connected to eggs in any explicit way. However, there are plenty of other older traditions that involve the egg as a symbol of rebirth and feature it prominently in creation mythologies:

Ancient Egyptians believed in a primeval egg from which the sun god hatched. Alternatively, the sun was sometimes discussed as an egg itself, laid daily by the celestial goose, Seb, the god of the earth. The Phoenix is said to have emerged from this egg. The egg is also discussed in terms of a world egg, molded by Khnum from a lump of clay on his potter's wheel (1).

Hinduism makes a connection between the content of the egg and the structure of the universe: for example, the shell represents the heavens, the white the air, and the yolk the earth. The Chandogya Upanishads describes the act of creation in terms of the breaking of an egg:

The Sun is Brahma—this is the teaching. A further explanation thereof (is as follows). In the beginning this world was merely non-being. It was existent. It developed. It turned into an egg. It lay for the period of a year. It was split asunder. One of the two egg-shell parts became silver, one gold. That which was of silver is this earth. That which was of gold is the sky … Now what was born therefrom is yonder sun (1).

In the Zoroastrian religion, the creation myth tells of an ongoing struggle between the principles of good and evil. During a lengthy truce of several thousand years, evil hurls himself into an abyss and good lays an egg, which represents the universe with the earth suspended from the vault of the sky at the midway point between where good and evil reside. Evil pierces the egg and returns to earth, and the two forces continue their battle (2).

In Findland, Luonnotar, the Daughter of Nature floats on the waters of the sea, minding her own business when an eagle arrives, builds a nest on her knee, and lays several eggs. After a few days, the eggs begin to burn and Luonnotar jerks her knee away, causing the eggs to fall and break. The pieces form the world as we know it: the upper halves form the skies, the lower the earth, the yolks become the sun, and the whites become the moon (3).

In China, there are several legends that hold a cosmic egg at their center, including the idea that the first being or certain people were born of eggs. For example, the Palangs trace their ancestry to a Naga princess who laid three eggs, and the Chin will not kill the king crow because it laid the original Chin egg from which they emerged (3).

The Sun God, Ra with an egg-shaped disk over his head. Public domain. These are some of the stories that build the foundation for the tradition of eggs at Easter. Contrary to the assertion of our meme, eggs and bunnies actually do have something to do with the idea of resurrection: in these early stories, the creator often emerged from the egg itself in some form:  The cosmic egg, according to the Vedic writings, has a spirit living within it which will be born, die, and be born yet again. Certain versions of the complicated Hindu mythology describe Prajapati as forming the egg and then appearing out of it himself. Brahma does likewise, and we find parallels in the ancient legends of Thoth and Ra. Egyptian pictures of Osiris, the resurrected corn god, show him returning to life once again rising up from the shell of a broken egg. The ancient legend of the Phoenix is similar. This beautiful mythical bird was said to live for hundreds of years. When its full span of life was completed it died in flames, rising again in a new form from the egg it had laid (4).

The Phoenix was adopted as a Christian symbol in the first century AD. It appears on funeral stones in early Christian art, churches, religious paintings, and stonework. The egg from which it rose has become our Easter egg. As with many symbols, the Easter egg has continued to shift. When the Lenten fast was adopted in the third and fourth centuries, observant Christians abstained from dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, and eggs. In England, on the Saturday before Lent, it was common practice for children to go from door to door to beg for eggs—a last treat before the fast began.

Even the act of coloring eggs is tied to the idea of rebirth and resurrection. While egg decorating kits offer a vibrant means of decorating eggs today, the link between life and eggs was traditionally made by using a red coloring. Among Christians, red symbolizes the blood of Jesus. Among Macedonians, it has been a tradition to bring a red egg to Church and eat it when the priest proclaims "Christ is risen" at the Easter vigil and the Lenten fast is officially broken (5). 

I love the Easter traditions at Church. The lighting of the Easter candle reminds me of my childhood Diwali celebrations and the lighting of Christmas lights as they all represent means of driving away darkness. Ishtar may well have some connection to the rites of Spring, and admittedly Easter itself is an observance of Spring, but in an age when so much wrong has been done in the name of religion, and religion is a focal point for criticism and debate, it's worth remembering that the overlap of time and history has given us richer traditions than any of us can truly be aware of—and that memes shouldn't be taken at face value. 

References Newall, Venetia. (1967) "Easter Eggs," The Journal of American Folklore Vol 80 (315): 3-32. RE Hume, ed. (1931) The Thirteen Upanishads. London: 214-215

Notes:   Newall: 4    Hume: 214   Newall: 7   Newall: 14   Newall: 22

Krystal D'Costa is an anthropologist working in digital media in New York City. You can follow AiP on Facebook.

 The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

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