Khnum

Khnum, also spelled Khnemu, is an ancient Egyptian deity associated with creation, the Nile, and pottery. He is typically portrayed as a ram-headed man or as a ram and is often shown at a potter's wheel, fashioning figures from Nile clay. In Egyptian art, Khnum embodies the craftsman aspect of creation.

In myth, Khnum is said to shape the bodies of humans on his potter's wheel and to breathe life into them, thus acting as a divine designer who gives form and vitality to life. This creation role places him among the gods associated with birth, fertility, and the unfolding of the world, linking his work to the life-giving powers of the Nile.

Cult and worship: Khnum's principal temple was on Elephantine Island near the first cataract at Aswan, where his cult center emphasized his role as a creator and provider of life. In that regional tradition, he is linked with riverine goddesses in a local triad, most commonly associated with Satis and Anuket. His worship extended to other sites in Egypt, and he continued to be venerated in later periods, sometimes in conjunction with other creator deities.

Iconography and legacy: Khnum's ram-headed form and potter's wheel became enduring symbols of divine craftsmanship and creation in ancient Egypt. Across periods, he was incorporated into evolving creation myths and occasionally identified with or merged into other creator figures, including forms of Ptah or Atum in certain cultic contexts.