Chnum

In Egyptian mythology, Chnum was the god of the Nile River delta, and the creator of human children, whom he makes from clay and places in their mothers' uteruses. He was married to Menhit (alternatively: Heget) and, with her, was the father of Hike. He is represented as a human with the head of a ram. He is typically depicted sitting at a potter's wheel with his newly created children on the wheel.

A very ancient deity, his name comes from the Egyptian word for “join” or “build.” Some of Khnum’s titles were “Divine Potter” and “Lord of Created Things From Himself.” He was a creator and water god, the guardian of the source of the Nile. The full name of Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid, was Khnum-khufu – “The God Khnum Protects Him.” Khnum was closely associated with the annual flooding of the Nile. He was thought to form babies out of clay on his potter’s wheel, placing them into their mother’s bodies. Khnum was shown as a man with the head of a ram, or as a ram-headed falcon.

The worship of Chnum centred on two principal riverside sites, Elephantine Island and Esna, which were regarded as sacred sites. At Elephantine, he was worshipped alongside Anuket and Satis as the guardian of the sources of the River Nile. Khnum always was an important god and he remained so even in some semi-Christian sects two to three centuries after the birth of Christ!

Other names

• Khnemu
• Khnum
• Knum