Khnum was a pre-dynastic, or early dynastic Ancient Egyptian Deity, depicted as a ram-headed man, a ram, or a man with ram horns. Khnum was considered the mother of mothers and father of fathers. As the river god responsible for the source of the Nile, he was thought to be responsible for the right amount of silt and inundation of the river. This was important both for agriculture and for clay-making. This also connected him to being a master potter, thought to craft both children and their ka from clay. The name Khnum comes from the Ancient Egyptian term "to join" or "to unite."

During a 7 year famine, Djoser, later identified as Netjerikhet Djoser, the 2nd king of Egypt's 3rd dynasty, vowed to build a temple to Khnum, who in response promised a return of the seasonal inundation of the Nile. Djoser then also promised various lands to Khnum as shown below.

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When I was asleep, my heart was in life and happiness. I found the god standing. I caused him pleasure by worshiping and adoring him. He made himself known to me and said: "I am Khnum, your creator, my arms are around you, to steady your body, to safeguard your limbs. I bestow on you ores with precious stones existing since antiquity that were not worked before to build temples, rebuild ruins, sculpt chapels for his master. I am master of creation. I have created myself, the great ocean which came into being in past times, according to whose pleasure the Nile rises. For I am the master who makes, I am he who makes himself exalted in Nun, who first came forth, Hapi who hurries at will; fashioner of everybody, guide of each man to their hour. I am Tatenen, father of Gods, the great Shu living on the shore. The two caves are in a trench below me. It is up to me to let loose the well. I know the Nile, urge him to the field, I urge him, life appears in every nose. As one urges to the field .......... I will make the Nile swell for you, without there being a year of lack and exhaustion in the whole land, so the plants will flourish, bending under their fruit. Renenutet is in all things everything will be brought forth by the million and everybody ...... in whose granary there had been dearth. The land of Egypt is beginning to stir again, the shores are shining wonderfully, and wealth and well-being dwell with them, as it had been before.

Then I awoke happy, my heart was decided and at ease. I decreed this order to the temple of my father Khnum. Royal sacrifice for Khnum-Re, lord of the cataract, first of Nubia, as reward for what you favour me with. I make you a gift of your western shore by the mountain of the dusk and your eastern shore by the mountain of dawn, from Elephantine to ...... with twelve auroras on the eastern and western shores, with the plants, with the harbours with the river and with every settlement on these auroras.
Ram Headed God Khnum, Wearing the Plumed White Crown
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from the Famine Stele at Sehel as quoted at http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/khnum.htm .
Source(s):
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/khnum.htm
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/djoser.htm
http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/khnum.html

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