Khonsu

A messenger from Bekhten came before Ramesses and presented gifts from the Prince of Bekhten. The Bentresh Stela records that he asked the king to send a learned man to attend Bentresh, the prince’s daughter and the younger sister of the royal wife. A disease had entered her body. Ramesses summoned the magicians and scribes of the House of Life, together with officials of the palace. They chose Tehuti-em-hab, a man with a wise heart and skilful hands, and the king sent him to Bekhten with the envoy.

Tehuti-em-hab examined Bentresh and found that an evil spirit possessed her. His spells could not drive it out. The spirit remained in her feverish body, beyond the power of the Egyptian healer. The Prince of Bekhten then sent another envoy to Ramesses. He asked the king to send a god, since no learned man could cure his daughter. Ramesses went to the temple of Khonsu in Thebes and called upon Khonsu-Neferhotep to travel to Bekhten and heal Bentresh.

Khonsu sent his manifestation, Khonsu-pa-khered. The god travelled to Bekhten with a great boat, five smaller boats, chariots, and many horses. After a journey of one year and five months, he arrived. The Prince of Bekhten came out with his soldiers and chiefs, bowed before the god, and welcomed him in the name of Ramesses. Khonsu went to Bentresh and used his magical power upon her. She was healed at once. The spirit welcomed the great god and asked that an offering be made in his presence.

The prince made a great offering and held a festival. The spirit then departed in peace to the place it loved, by Khonsu’s command, and the people of Bekhten rejoiced. The prince decided to keep the god in his country. After three years and nine months, he saw Khonsu in a dream as a golden hawk leaving his shrine and flying towards Egypt. He understood that the statue was useless without the god’s indwelling spirit. He allowed the priests to return with it and sent gifts with them. They brought the statue and the gifts to the temple of Khonsu-Neferhotep in Egypt.