Editing Khonsu (section)

===Role in the underworld===
The earliest known mention of the god appears in the so-called Cannibal Hymn within the Pyramid Texts. As the butcher of other gods, he is said to extract their entrails and offer them to the deceased king in order to absorb their magical powers. This process was intended to help the deceased king achieve immortality and regain vitality.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Adel Zaki Nasr |first=Youmna |date=December 12, 2022 |title=Apotropaic Roles of Khonsu in the Ancient Egyptian Religion during the Dynastic Period |url=https://mkaf.journals.ekb.eg/article_276392_eda89ae7b789c6bf50958c471723673f.pdf |journal=Research Journal of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels |publisher=Mansoura University |issue=12 |pages=288-290}}</ref>

In the Cannibal Hymn of the Unas Pyramid, Khonsu is named as a member of a group of demons composed of three unknown deities, whose names can be translated to "The Seizer of Heads," "The One with his head raised," and "The One Above the Redness," as well as the god [[Shezmu]]. These five bloodthirsty helpers were placed in the sky, likely based on constellations or other celestial phenomena. Additionally, they are considered messengers of death, sent forth by the deceased.<ref>Meurer, Georg (2002). [https://archive.org/details/Meurer2002DieFeindeDesKoenigsInDenPyramidentexten ''Die Feinde des Königs in den Pyramidentexten'']. Göttingen: Universitätsverlag Freiburg / Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, pp.47-48.</ref>

From the Old Kingdom to the Middle Kingdom, Khonsu is referred to in several tomb inscriptions as a Wepwety (Wpwty), a term often translated as "messenger". This designation refers to underworld deities which were understood as death-bringing spirits and punishers of the deceased.<ref>Erman,Adolf/ Grapow, Hermann (1971). ''Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache.'' Akademie Verlag, p. 30</ref><ref> Nasr (2022), pp. 294-296.</ref>

Further connections to Khonsu and the destruction of heart ceremony can be found in Spell 310 of the [[Coffin Texts]], where he is described as the son of the goddess [[Shesmetet|Shezmetet]] and tasked with burning hearts with his fiery wrath. Spell 311 of the Coffin Texts aims to help the deceased transform into Khonsu to steal the gods' magical powers and defend against hostile forces. In this context, he is referred to as "Khonsu who lives on hearts." During the New Kingdom period, the role of devourer of hearts was taken over by the goddess [[Ammit]].<ref> Nasr (2022), pp.300-302.</ref>