From The Alpha and the Omega - Volume III
by Jim A. Cornwell, Copyright © July 20, 2002, all rights reserved "Volume III - Gods/Goddesses of Ancient Egypt"

KHERTY (Cherti)

To return to the Denderah Decan 18 - Grand Temple Decan 3 (Kher khepet Ken Mout), Denderah Decan 35 - Grand Temple Decan 22 (Kher khepet seret), Denderah Decan 30 - Grand Temple Decan 27 (Khent-Kheru), Denderah Decan 23 - Grand Temple Decan 34 (Remen kher sah), or List of Netjeru.

    Kherty (Cherti) was the ferryman of the dead and a ram-god of the underworld (Duat), with a dual nature of hostility and protection.    He was shown as a man with the head of a ram or as a ram.    From Kherty the king has to be protected by no less a deity than Re.    However, Kherty, as his name which means "Lower One" indicates, is an earth-god and so can act as the guardian of the royal tomb.    The king's power over the winds is likened to the grasp of Kherty's hand.
    In the Old Kingdom Kherty is eminent enough to figure as a partner of Osiris and his ram form leads naturally to a relationship with Khnum.    Kherty's major cult center appears to have been at Letopolis, northwest of Memphis.

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    This file was created on June 18, 2005.

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