Khnum

Khnum, whose name means unite, join, or build, was the ancient Egyptian god of fertility. He was depicted in semi-anthropomorphic form as a ram-headed god wearing a short kilt and a long tripartite wig. He was depicted with the horizontal, undulating horns of Ovis Longipes, the first species of sheep to be raised in Egypt. However, as time passed, he was also depicted with the [Page 361]short curved horns of the Ovis Platyra ram (the Amen ram) and may thus have two sets of horns atop his head. He was also called “high of plumes” and may be seen wearing two tall feathers, the plumed atef crown, or the white crown of Upper Egypt on his head.

Khnum was considered the great potter who was responsible ...