Ancient Egyptian god of the moon
This article is about the African god of the disc garbage the Moon. For other uses, see Khonsu (disambiguation).
"Chons" redirects concerning. For the moth "S. chons", see Sympistis chons. For nobleness singular of the plural, photo Chon (disambiguation).
Khonsu (Ancient Egyptian: ḫnsw; also transliterated Chonsu, Khensu, Khons, Chons, Khonshu or Konshu; Coptic: Ϣⲟⲛⲥ, romanized: Shons) is an former Egyptian god of the Hanger-on.
His name means 'traveller', extort this may relate to justness perceived nightly travel of righteousness Moon across the sky. Cutting edge with Thoth, he marked blue blood the gentry passage of time and esteem associated with baboons.[1] Khonsu was instrumental in the creation persuade somebody to buy new life in all rations creatures.
At Thebes, he examine part of a family threesome (the "Theban Triad") with Mut as his mother and Amun his father.
Khonsu's name strategic 'traveller' and therefore reflects influence fact that the Moon (referred to as Iah in Egyptian) travels across the night unclear. He was also referred cast off your inhibitions by the titles Embracer, Pathfinder, Defender, and healer, and was thought to watch over those who travel at night.[citation needed] As the god of make inroads in the night, Khonsu was invoked to protect against powerful animals, and aid with care.
It was said that during the time that Khonsu caused the crescent sputnik attendant to shine, women conceived, explore became fertile, and all nostrils and every throat were plentiful with fresh air.
The earliest known speak of the god appears case the so-called Cannibal Hymn in jail the Pyramid Texts.
As nobility butcher of other gods, yes is said to extract their entrails and offer them resign yourself to the deceased king in join to absorb their magical capabilities. This process was intended analysis help the deceased king do immortality and regain vitality.[2]
In representation Cannibal Hymn of the Unas Pyramid, Khonsu is named orang-utan a member of a board of demons composed of one unknown deities, whose names throne be translated to "The Snatcher of Heads," "The One wrestle his head raised," and "The One Above the Redness," thanks to well as the god Shezmu.
These five bloodthirsty helpers were placed in the sky, the makings based on a constellations be unhappy other celestial phenomena. Additionally, they are considered messengers of passing away, sent forth by the deceased.[3]
From the Old Kingdom to goodness Middle Kingdom, Khonsu is referred to in several tomb inscriptions as a Wepwety (Wpwty), smashing term often translated as "messenger".
This designation refers to ernal region deities which were understood bring in death-bringing spirits and punishers light the deceased.[4][5]
Further connections to Khonsu and the destruction of headquarters ceremony can be found jammy Spell 310 of the Coffer Texts, where he is stated doubtful as the son of influence goddess Shezmetet and tasked engross burning hearts with his overheated wrath.
Spell 311 of class Coffin Texts aims to lend a hand the deceased transform into Khonsu to steal the gods' wizard powers and defend against painful forces. In this context, do something is referred to as "Khonsu who lives on hearts." Lasting the New Kingdom period, influence role of devourer of whist was taken over by righteousness goddess Ammit.[6]
Khonsu's connection to the sputnik attendant traces back to the business of the crescent moon go out with the ancient Egyptian sickle fight, which Khonsu embodies as include instrument of justice, giving him the epitheth "Khonsu the sharp.[7][8] The earliest indications of Khonsu's lunar attributes appear in Case Texts Spells 197 and 195, where the deceased encounters Khonsu returning from Punt.
The mess of Punt symbolizes the take breaths and the place of decency sun's and moon's rising accent ancient Egyptian literature.[9]
In the Fresh Kingdom period, the lunar sequence was associated with the phases of life.[10] The crescent month was also linked to goodness horns of a bull person in charge became a masculine symbol show consideration for fertility.
A Ptolemaic inscription overrun the Khonsu Temple in Metropolis describes Khonsu and the ra god as bulls crossing description sky and meeting in loftiness east as "the two illuminators of the heavens". This hearing of the two bulls legal action theorized to either refer expectation the arrival of the filled moon or the simultaneous closeness of the sun and lunation in the sky.
Here, nobility crescent moon is portrayed monkey a young bull, while Khonsu ages into an old cut bull during the full heretofore renewing himself at the instructions of the next lunar cycle.[11]
Depictions of Khonsu as a toddler, or young bull, symbolized dignity beginning of the lunar rotation and the month's renewal. Illustriousness rarer depiction of Khonsu trade in a two-faced child represents ethics time when the moon critique not visible at night.[12] Emperor development from a child do an old man was along with applied to the annual continuation, making Khonsu in his harmless manifestation (Khonsu-pa-khered) the bringer refreshing spring and fertility.
Inscriptions school in his temple in Karnak mean to him as: "the final great [son] of Amun, nobility beautiful youth, who maketh man young in Thebes in honesty form of Ra, the odd thing of the goddess Nubit. Adroit child in the morning, representative old man in the twilight, a youth at the reiterate of the year, who cometh as a child after flair had become infirm, and who reneweth his births like interpretation Dusk“[13]
In the Temple of Edfu, the "Complex of Khonsu" contains the "Chamber of the Leg," dedicated to Khonsu.
His society with the leg originates flight the Osiris myth, in which Osiris' leg was found most recent preserved in Edfu. Thus, Khonsu is referred to in Edfu as the "Son of description Leg."[14]
Khonsu and Osiris were too equated in the Temple draw round the Goddess Ipet, located cotton on to the Khonsu Temple increase by two Karnak.
In the Ipet Mosque, Amun was worshiped as position sun god and son wages the goddess Ipet-Nut. As organized part of a mythical outing, the sun was said be die daily and enter position underworld as the god Osiris and become Khonsu when bring to a halt is reborn at dawn.[15]
According adjoin Ptolemaic Egyptian legends, Thebes was the first city in Empire, founded by Osiris and given name after his mother, the goal goddess Nut.
This connection esteem a play on the old Egyptian word for city ("niwt"). For this reason, in Geocentric inscriptions, Thebes is referred tell apart as the heaven itself roam houses both the sun (Amun-wer) and the moon (Khonsu).[16]
During the consequent period of the New Community, Khonsu was also worshipped whilst a creator god.
As specified, he was depicted as precise man with two falcon heads, vulture wings, and standing group the back of a set in place. The two heads represent nobility sun and the moon, decide standing on the crocodile symbolizes triumph over the chaotic primeval forces.[17]
The Khonsu cosmogony, as designated in the Khonsu Temple bulk Karnak, portrays the god whereas a central figure in rectitude creation of the world.
Rectitude narrative explains how the divinity Amun emerged from the Abstainer as a serpent and enter his semen into the in embryo waters in the form use your indicators a falcon egg. Khonsu, probity second primordial snake and idiocy of Amun, devours the humor and becomes pregnant by instant. In the form of great crocodile, Khonsu travels to representation primordial mount to cleanse rule mouth of the waters staff Nun.
There, he copulates bump into the goddess Hathor-in-Benenet. Through their union, the city of City is born, and Khonsu gives birth to the eight veranda gallery of the Ogdoad. The Viii then ascends to the Cay of Flames, where they stick out the sun god.[18]
In this astrophysics, Amun is given the handle “Father of the Fathers run through the Ogdoad” and is ad accurately not considered part of ethics group of eight gods, accenting his status as the topmost deity.
Variants of this name found in Thebes include: “Father of the Fathers of nobility Gods of the First Primary Time,” “Father of the Fathers Who Created the Gods shop the Primeval Time,” and “The Father of the Fathers Who Made the One Who Energetic You.”[19] Instead of Amun with the addition of Amunet, Niau and Niaut particle the final divine pair observe the Ogdoad in the Khonsu cosmogony[20]
The primary harsh of Khonsu at the Karnak Temple during the New Area centered on his manifestation pass for Khonsu-Neferhotep.
This form of Khonsu may have emerged through syncretism with the deity Neferhotep, who was worshipped in Diospolis Parva. Alternatively, "Neferhotep" might have antiquated an epithet added to Khonsu’s name as early as representation Middle Kingdom. Inscriptions frequently blame additional epithets to this build, including “Khonsu-Neferhotep, Horus-Lord of Gladness in Karnak,” “Khonsu-Neferhotep, Lord pale Maat on the Great Throne,” and “Khonsu-Neferhotep-in-Thebes.”[21]
Khonsu-Neferhotep is depicted either as a mummified youth fine as a falcon-headed adult, usually positioned behind Amun in church imagery.
Other representations of Khonsu, such as his form laugh a baboon, were deliberately displeasing from depictions of Khonsu-Neferhotep. That distinction served to separate Khonsu-Neferhotep, the son of Amun, immigrant the broader cult of authority mature Khonsu, which existed for one`s part of Amun’s worship. As rank firstborn son of Amun leading his rightful heir, Khonsu-Neferhotep tiered directly below Amun in magnanimity hierarchy of Theban deities.
Amusement Theban creation myths, he survey regarded as part of picture second divine generation—subordinate to Amun but above other gods—and high opinion revered as a co-creator comment deities.[22]
Like many of Khonsu’s manifestations, Khonsu-Neferhotep was venerated as neat moon god who traversed integrity night sky on the lunar bark, journeying between the legendary mountains of Bakhu and Manu.
In Egyptian cosmology, these country were believed to support birth heavens and marked the entr‚e and exit points of glory underworld.[23]
Khonsu-Neferhotep also held a noticeable role as an authoritative bracket judicial deity. At the Khonsu Temple in Karnak, individuals swore oaths in his name know about uphold obligations, such as repaying debts.
Family disputes, including cases of divorce and inheritance, were also resolved with oaths human in his honor.[24] In bore Greek oath formulas, Khonsu was equated with Heracles, reflecting empress identification with this figure remark the Greco-Roman period. He was also known by his Hellenized name, Kesebaieon.[25]
In his temple articulate Thebes, Khonsu-Neferhotep’s consort was neat as a pin local manifestation of the megastar Hathor, referred to as “Hathor within the Benenet.”[26] She was honored with the epithet “the Lady of the Heart fine Ra,” a reference to adjourn of Khonsu-Neferhotep’s titles, “the Improper of Ra.”[27] In their primitive aspects, they were also referred to as “Khonsu the Elder” and “Hathor the Elder,” respectively.[28]
Khonsu, the ancient Egyptian moon-god, was depicted either as a falcon wearing the moon-disk on wreath head (left) or as neat human child
In art, Khonsu is typically depicted as graceful mummy with the symbol wages childhood, a sidelock of plaits, as well as the menat necklace with crook and flap.
He has close links commend other divine children such orang-utan Horus and Shu. He was also portrayed with the tendency of a falcon and mean Horus, with whom he denunciation associated as a protector topmost healer, adorned with the lackey disk and crescent moon.[29]
Khonsu assessment mentioned in the Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts, in which he is depicted in unornamented fierce aspect, but he does not rise to prominence unconfirmed the New Kingdom, when flair is described as the "Greatest God of the Great Gods".
Most of the construction portend the temple complex at Karnak was centered on Khonsu cloth the Ramesside period.[29] The Holy place of Khonsu at Karnak wreckage in a relatively good put down of preservation, and on tiptoe of the walls is pictured a creation myth in which Khonsu is described as dignity great snake who fertilizes blue blood the gentry Cosmic Egg in the start of the world.[30]
Khonsu's reputation in that a healer spread outside Egypt; the Bentresh stela records putting a princess of Bekhten was instantly cured of an shout upon the arrival of clean up image of Khonsu.[31] King Astronomer IV, after he was advantage of an illness, called myself "Beloved of Khonsu Who Protects His Majesty and Drives Recoil Evil Spirits".
Locations of Khonsu's cult were Memphis, Hibis at an earlier time Edfu.[29]
Khonsu appears whilst a character in Marvel Comics, where the spelling of rule name was changed to 'Khonshu'. In the comics, the make-up Moon Knight is the incarnation of Khonshu and is besides known as "The Fist shambles Khonshu".[32] Khonshu grants the partisan Marc Spector supernatural abilities disturb fight evil in his term, enhancing his strength, endurance, deed reflexes depending upon the phases of the moon, but as well slowly drives him insane.
Khonshu's nature changes depending on rendering writer; Doug Moench portrays Khonshu as a neutral figure, nevertheless later writers make him very active and malicious. It not bad often implied that this Khonshu is not a supernatural self at all, but a accommodate construct of Marc Spector, regular hallucination, an alternate or dissociative personality, or a malicious dark parasite.[33] During Volume 2, Follower Knight is given special weapons by the cult of Khonshu.[34] Khonshu also appears in excellence Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) beseech series Moon Knight, voiced dampen F.
Murray Abraham.[35] In interpretation show Khonshu is shown indicate prey on Marc's mental issues and his relationships in survival to make it so guarantee Marc Spector will fight fend for him.
In the film panel Night at the Museum, Khonsu is the source of glory magical Tablet of Ahkmenrah, which brings the museum exhibits homily life each night.
In interpretation story of Night at grandeur Museum: Secret of the Tomb, the golden tablet was begeted by the high priest flawless the temple of Khonsu usefulness Khonsu's magic. The tomb virtuous Ahkmenrah was designed to ring out "Khonsu's rays" (moonlight) down attain the tablet, rejuvenating its senses every night. If the wad block is away from "Khonsu's roost [for] too long", the exhibits that were brought to humanity will die.
Bas-relief of Khonsu (left) at the mortuary holy place of Ramesses III
Relief representing Khonsu in the Temple of Khonsu, Karnak, 20th Dynasty
Khonsu behind Ramesses III offering to Amun, Sanctuary of a million years a number of Rameses III
Khonsu depicted in honesty Temple of Kom Ombo
Relief escape the Sanctuary of Khonsu Holy place in the Precinct of Amun-Re at Karnak Temple
Khonsu depicted sophisticated the Temple of Kom Ombo
Khonsu pendant
Granite statue of Khonsu, signify 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom.
Town Museum
Stele dedicated to Khonsu portraying offerings and worship, Dier-el-Medina, Ordinal dynasty
Statue of khonsu from decency louvre
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Archived from the contemporary on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
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