Everything about Khonsu totally explained
In
Egyptian mythology,
Khonsu (alternately
Chonsu,
Khensu,
Khons,
Chons or
Khonshu) is an ancient
lunar deity, from before formal structure was given to a .
Etymology
His name reflects the fact that the Moon (referred to as
Iah in
Egyptian) travels across the night sky, for it means
The Wanderer, and also had the titles
Embracer,
Pathfinder, and
Defender, as he was thought to watch over night travelers. As the god of light in the night, Khonsu was invoked to protect against wild animals, increase male virility, and to aid with healing. It was said that when Khonsu caused the crescent moon to shine, women conceived, cattle became fertile, and all nostrils and every throat was filled with fresh air.
Khonsu can also be understood to mean
king's placenta, and consequently in early times, he was considered to slay the king's (for example the
pharaoh's) enemies, and extract their innards for the king's use, metaphorically creating something resembling a
placenta for the king. This bloodthirsty aspect leads him to be referred to, in such as the
Pyramid texts, as the
(one who) lives on hearts. He also became associated with more literal placentas, becoming seen as a deification of the royal placenta, and so a god involved with childbirth.
History
Menthu as the son of
Mut in
Theban thought during the
Middle Kingdom, because the pool at the temple of Mut was in the shape of a crescent moon. The father who had adopted Khonsu was thought to be
Amun, who had already been changed into a more significant god by the rise of Thebes, and had had his wife changed to Mut. As these two were both considered extremely benign deities, Menthu gradually lost his more aggressive aspects.
In
art, Khonsu was depicted as a man with the head of a hawk, wearing the crescent of the new moon subtending the disc of the full moon. His head was shaven except for the side-lock worn by Egyptian children, signifying his role as
Khonsu the Child. Occasionally he was depicted as a youth holding the flail of the pharaoh, wearing a
menat necklace. He was sometimes pictured on the back of a goose, ram, or two crocodiles. His sacred animal was the baboon, considered a lunar animal by the ancient Egyptians.
Khonshu has appeared as a character in modern literature, most notably as the patron deity of the
Marvel Comics superhero,
Moon Knight.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Khonsu'.
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