Don,

In the PT’s, Khonsu (perhaps the crescent moon seen as a curved butcher’s knife) is only mentioned once, and seems more associated with slaughter and butchery than a “measurer”:

"It is Khonsu (xnzw) who gashes (mds) the Lords, as he cuts their throats (DAd) (or ‘decapitates them’). And he removes for him what is in their bodies. He is the envoy, whom he sends to punish (xsf). It is Shezemu who cuts them up for Unas, (And) cooks for him the things in them on his evening hearth-stones." (Eyre, §402 - 3)

the same inscription translated by Allen:

“Courser (xnzw), the lord’s knife-bearer, is the one who will slit their throats for Unis and takes out for him what is in their belly – he is the messenger he sends to confront; Shezmu is the one who will butcher them for Unis and who cooks a meal of them for him on his evening hearthstones.” (Allen, W 180a)

Allen’s note on Courser (xnzw): “a designation of the crescent moon, also seen as a knife. From the Middle Kingdom onward, the moon itself as the god Khonsu.”


Similar inscriptions involving Thoth:

“Thoth’s blade has been sharpened, and the knife that removes heads and cuts out hearts has been honed, and (it) will remove the heads and cut out the hearts of those who will cross this Pepi when he goes to you, Osiris……” (Allen, P 327)

“Ho, Neith! You are Thoth in his White Palace, in your identity that is with Osiris. Your baton is in your hand as him of the mud, and you shall number those of the night and use your arm to (direct) the Imperishable Stars......Thoth, the knife-bearer who emerged from Seth, will come to you and find you seated on your chair of ebony as the Sun at the fore of the Ennead. You shall govern the akhs, for their heads have been brought to you and their running legs fetched for you, and you shall live on their hearts.” (Allen, Nt 250)



You might like to consider Seshat with her distinctive headdress, a deity more associated with building, measurement, calendar etc., and as a patroness of architects / master builders:

“Nephthys has collected all your limbs for you, in her identity of Seshat (sSAt), lady of builders (iqdw), and has made them sound for you.” T 196 (PT 364) Sethe Vol 1: 331; §616b


Early examples of Seshat's 'headgear' are similar to the sign for 'month' (Abd) - a 5 or 6-rayed star beneath a crescent moon? with what may be two plumes (S9, Swty - 'double plumes')

The lower component of Seshat's headgear below the ‘crescent moon’, is basically two diagonals in the form of a cross, fixed to an upright. The overall effect is of a 5-rayed star. When the horizontal bar is added, it becomes a 7-rayed star / 7-petalled flower.

The seven 'petals' / 'rays', radiating out from the centre circle might represent the cardinal directions, N, E, and W, including the four intermediate directions located halfway between, or 45 degs from the cardinal directions, NW, NE, SE and SW - the long 'stem' / 'support' representing the primary direction, south.

Often seen between the two ‘plumes’ surmounting her headgear, is a narrow gap that makes for a useful sighting device for sighting distant objects – for example, stars.

For more info on Seshat, see my web page: [sites.google.com]

Chris




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2011 08:12AM by Chris Tedder.