Apotropaic Roles of Khonsu in the Ancient Egyptian Religion during the Dynastic Period

Abstract

Khonsu was one of the most prominent characters in the Egyptian doctrine. His popularity reached its peak since the time of the Pyramid Texts. He endowed many functions as a cannibalism originator, messenger, and a god in the Egyptian theology. Owing to his nature as a multi-character supreme being, he played several crucial apotropaic roles throughout the ages to avert evil influences and malevolent spirits. As a founder of cannibalism, he guaranteed for the king a safe ascension to the sky. Moreover, he was viewed as a protector of the divine essence and absolute power that should be transferred to all the dead to enable them acting as the gods in heaven. As a messenger, he played a punitive role in torturing the opponents. Thus, he was equated to the chthonic executioners, who carried out sentences of death on the condemned inhabitants of the underworld during the New Kingdom. The cult of Khonsu as a god of moon, creation, magic, and healing was widely attested during the Late Period. As a god, Khonsu had a power to ensure rejuvenation, drive away disease demons, destroy evil powers, and aid the possessed to return to the normal state of health and strength. قدانفلاو ةحايسلا ةيلك ةلمج – ددع 21 – برمسيد 1211 م