Kherty: Difference between revisions

'''Kherty''' is an [[Ancient Egypt]]ian deity. Despite being archaeologically attested since the early [[Second Dynasty of Egypt|2nd dynasty]], his original mythological role during this era is unclear. The earliest mythological descriptions of Kherty's role appear not until the [[Sixth Dynasty of Egypt|6th dynasty]] in the [[Pyramid Texts]].<ref name=JGT>John Gwyn Griffiths: ''The Origins of Osiris and His Cult'' (= ''Studies in the history of religions'', vol. 40). BRILL, Leiden 1980, {{ISBN |9004060960}}, p. 6, 173 & 174.</ref>

The earliest depictions of Kherty appear during the early 2nd dynasty, under king ([[pharaoh]]) [[Hotepsekhemwy]] and [[Raneb]]. He is shown as a recumbent and mummified [[sheep|ram]]. The figurine is always guided by the [[Egyptian hieroglyphs|hieroglyphic]] signs of a shamble and a bread loaf, giving a reading as ''kherty''. The meaning of this word is commonly "to slaughter", thus Kherty's name may mean "the slaughterer".<ref name=JGT/><ref name=GMD>Georg Meurer: ''Die Feinde des Königs in den Pyramidentexten'' (= ''Orbis biblicus et orientalis'', vol. 189). Saint-Paul, 2002, {{ISBN |3525530463}}, pp. 73, 74 & 76.</ref>

Kherty was worshipped since the early 2nd dynasty, his name appears first time on stone bowls of king [[Sneferka]]. Stone bowl inscriptions from the reign of king [[Peribsen]] mention first time the title "god servant of Kherty" (egpt. ''hem-netjer Kherty''). The main centre of the Kherty cult was located at [[Letopolis]] (today '''Ausim'''), a second cult centre was later founded at ''Nesat'' (exact location unknown).<ref name=CLG>Christian Leitz: ''Lexikon der ägyptischen Götter und Götterbezeichnungen (LGG)'' (= ''Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta'', vol. 6). Peeters Publishers, Leuven 2002, {{ISBN |9042911514}}, pp. 48.</ref>