In this episode, we’ll be visiting a statue of Khonsu from the ancient Egyptian new kingdom at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King.
This granite statue of Khonsu is from the ancient Egyptian new kingdom, 18th Dynasty. Khonsu was the ancient Egyptian god of the Moon. He was generally depicted youthfully. His name means “traveller” which probably relates to how it looked like the moon travelled across the sky.
He, alongside Thoth, oversaw the flow of time. Khonsu played a crucial role in the genesis of life across all living beings. In Thebes, he constituted a familial triad known as the “Theban Triad,” where Mut served as his mother and Amun as his father.
Known by the titles Embracer, Pathfinder, Defender, and Healer, Khonsu was invoked for defence against wildlife and sought for healing assistance. Folklore tells that under the crescent moon’s glow caused by Khonsu, women conceived, cattle became fertile, and the air filled every nostril and throat with refreshing breath.
By Anthony King (c)