Khonsu: The Lunar God

Khonsu was considered as the son of Amun and Mut, with whom he formed the Theban triad. He was a god of fertility and healing, as is recorded in the story of the “Princess of Bekheten”. Khonsu was believed to have the ability to drive out evil spirits. His name is derived from the Egyptian word "khenes" meaning "to travel" and this probably alluding to his nightly journey across the sky. A great temple was built for Khonsu in the Karnak complex at Thebes. It was begun by Ramesses III, in the New Kingdom but enlarged by later rulers. Although the good epithets that konsu got, he also had a dark side.

Khonsu the devourer

Khonsu was a benevolent god in the New Kingdom, but in early times specifically the Old Kingdom, he was not benevolent, but violent and horrible. There is a part of the Pyramid Texts described Khonsu as a bloodthirsty maniac, who killed and ate other gods’ hearts in order to absorb their powers. In other texts, he was described as “Khonsu who lives on hearts”. 

Khonsu’s association with other deities

Khonsu was associated with some other deities. He was associated with Thoth in Khumnu (Hermopolis). Khonsu and Osiris represented the sun and the moon respectively in the late period. Khonsu was also associated with Ra, Shu, Min, and Horus in Thebes.

Khonsu’s forms

Khonsu had a variety of forms. He usually appeared in a form like a mummy with crossed arms, a shaved head, and side-lock of hair which was a symbol of youth. He was sometimes represented as a baboon. He also appeared as a falcon- headed man. The common thing among his different forms is that he always wears both a crescent moon headdress surmounted by the full lunar disc.

A statue of Khonsu in his most common form

An interesting fact about Khonsu

He loved gambling. He once lost five days of moonlight to Nut (the sky goddess) in a game, which allowed Nut to give birth to her five children.