The figurine is always guided by the hieroglyphic signs of a shamble and a bread loaf, giving a reading as kherty.

Kherty was worshipped since the early 2nd dynasty, his name appears first time on stone bowls of king Sneferka.

Stone bowl inscriptions from the reign of king Peribsen mention first time the title "god servant of Kherty" (Egypt.

Kherty was a contradicting character: The pyramid texts reveal that he was worshipped at one side as a guide, who brought the deceased king safely to "the yonder site" by "being the ferryman".

[2][3] On the other site, however, Kherty was feared as death in persona, a god that "lives on the heart of men", making them stop pounding.