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In Egyptian mythology Kneph
was originally the breath of life, his name meaning soul-breath.
Indeed, according to Plutarch and Diodorus, Kneph was identical
with the Greek pneuma. Kneph in this context was a spirit that
breathed life into things, giving them form.
Kneph eventually became considered to be the creator god
himself, in Elephantine, although his identity was finally
assimilated into the more important god Amun.
In art, Kneph was depicted as a ram, the animal symbolic
of the ba, a major aspect of the Egyptian notion of the soul;
the Egyptian word for "ram" was "ba".
He was also depicted wearing a uraeus, symbolic of his authority,
as creator. In his hand he always bears the ankh, symbol of
life.
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and Goddesses Menu
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