Thoth

Thoth (Ramesseum, Luxor)

In Egyptian mythology, Thoth was the deity of scribes. He is thought to be one of the most important said to be born from the skull of Seth also said to be born from the heart of Ra.

Thoth was considered the heart and tongue of Ra. He was also the one who translated Ra's will into speech.

Shrines

The main shrine of Thoth was at Khemennu. It was there that he was the head of the local company of deities. He also had shrines in Abydos, Hesert, Urit, Per-Ab, Rekhui, Ta-ur, Sep, Hat, Pselket, Talmsis, Antcha-Mutet, Bah, Amen-heri-ab, and Ta-kens.

Worship

Thoth was mostly prayed in the early dynasty. He was also prayed through the five days of celebration. They would sing hymns and chant spells for Thoth. There were many celebrations like "The feast of Thoth" in the year. He was a major god for the early dynasty.

Myth

Thoth played very important roles in Egyptian myths. He was said to have resurrected Osiris after he was slain by Seth and also later resurrected his son, Horus. He was also credited for creating 365 days instead of 360. One myth explains how Ra bans Nut from having children on any day of the year. Thoth then goes to the moon god, Khonsu, and gambles five days out of him, therefore giving five days (the demon days) when Nut can have children. He also was sometimes said to take the place of the Primeval Goose and be the creator of the world and all other gods.

Family

Thoth had one direct relation to Ma'at that people know of, although some myths say he was the son of Ra. His feminine counterpart was a goddess named Seshat. She was also sometimes credited to be the inventor of hieroglyphs, while Thoth taught them. She was also said to be Thoth’s wife or daughter.

Relationship to Ma'at

Ma'at also played a big role next to Thoth. He was there at the weighing of the heart, noting, while Ma’at weighed the heart. They both stood on either side of Ra’s boat and also he was sometimes said to be Ma’at’s husband. Ma'at was the goddess of law, order, truth, and justice.

Physical Description

Thoth was a unique god. He is said to have two forms: an ibis-headed human and a squatting dog-headed baboon. He held a stylus and a pallet, and sometimes the symbol of life, called the Ankh.

Titles and Roles

Thoth had many titles and a lot of roles. He was often called “Three times Great”. He was mediator, messenger, scribe and teacher. Some of his titles included; ‘Scribe of Ma’at in the company of the gods’ ‘Lord of Ma’at’ ‘Lord of divine words’ ‘Judge of the two combatant gods’ ‘Three times great’ or ‘Thrice Great’ These numerous titles show that Thoth had a very significant importance to ancient Egyptian mythology. He had his high point of worship in the Old Kingdom.

Hermes and the Greeks

When the Greeks conquered Egypt, they equated Thoth with Hermes, their messenger god. Thoth’s central city was Khemenu, (where he has his chief temple) which the Greeks renamed to Hermopolis, city of Hermes. Today, ancient temples and ruins worshiping Thoth are there and what used to be Khemenu is now el-Eshmunein.

Sources

1. Bleeker, Claas Jouco. 1973. Hathor and Thoth: Two Key Figures of the Ancient Egyptian Religion. Studies in the History of Religions 26. Leiden: E. J. Brill
2. Boylan, Patrick. 1922. Thot, the Hermes of Egypt: A Study of Some Aspects of Theological Thought in Ancient Egypt. London: Oxford University Press. (Reprinted Chicago: Ares Publishers inc., 1979)
3. Budge, E. A. Wallis. Egyptian Religion. Kessinger Publishing, 1900.
4. Budge, E. A. Wallis. The Gods of the Egyptians Volume 1 of 2. New York: Dover Publications, 1969 (original in 1904).
5. Bunson, Margaret A Dictionary of Ancient Egypt
6. Remler, Pat Egyptian Mythology A to Z
7. Wilkinson, Richard The Complete Guide to Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
8. Gahlin, Lucia EGYPT Gods, Myth and Religion
9. Barrett, Clive The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
10. Ions, Veronica Egyptian Mythology
11. Bunson, Margaret A Dictionary of Ancient Egypt

Related pages

• List of Egyptian gods and goddesses

Other websites

• About the Emerald Tablets The Emerald Tablets of Thoth-The-Atlanean (with commentaries by Dr V.Atnonov).
• http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/thoth.htm
• http://www.egyptianmyths.net/mythbookthoth.htm
• https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-thoth
• http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/gods/explore/main.html