Egyptian God Thoth.

“Thoth: The Divine Scribe of Wisdom and Knowledge.”

Introduction.

Thoth is an ancient Egyptian deity associated  to  wisdom, writing, and knowledge. He is often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon. Thoth played a significant role in Egyptian mythology and was considered the scribe of the gods, responsible for maintaining the balance of the universe and recording the deeds of humans. He was also associated with magic, science, and the arts.

Thoth: The God of Wisdom and Writing in Ancient Egypt.

Thoth: The God of Wisdom and Writing in Ancient Egypt.

In the pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods, Thoth held a prominent position as the deity of wisdom, writing, and knowledge. Known as the “scribe of the gods,” Thoth played a crucial role in the development of Egyptian civilization and its written language. This article explores the significance of Thoth in ancient Egyptian culture and sheds light on his various roles and attributes.

Thoth was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon, symbolizing his association with wisdom and intelligence. He was believed to be the inventor of writing and the patron god of scribes, making him a central figure in the dissemination of knowledge and the preservation of historical records. The ancient Egyptians revered Thoth as the divine mediator between the gods and humans, as well as the judge of the dead.

One of Thoth’s most important roles was that of the “measurer of time.” He was responsible for maintaining the cosmic order and ensuring the regularity of the seasons and the annual flooding of the Nile River. This connection to time and order made Thoth an essential deity in the Egyptian belief system, as the stability of their agricultural society depended on the predictability of natural cycles.

Thoth’s association with writing and knowledge extended beyond the earthly realm. He was believed to have recorded the verdicts of the gods and the deeds of humans in the “Book of Thoth,” a sacred text that contained the secrets of the universe. This book was said to grant its possessor immense power and wisdom, making it a coveted object among both mortals and gods.

As the god of writing, Thoth was also responsible for the invention of hieroglyphics, the ancient Egyptian writing system. Hieroglyphics consisted of a complex combination of pictorial symbols and phonetic signs, allowing for the expression of both concrete and abstract concepts. Thoth’s role in the development of this writing system was crucial in the advancement of Egyptian civilization, as it enabled the recording of historical events, religious rituals, and scientific knowledge.

Thoth’s influence extended beyond the realm of writing and knowledge. He was also associated with magic and healing, often depicted with a staff entwined by two serpents, symbolizing his ability to restore balance and cure diseases. Thoth was considered the patron god of doctors and healers, and his wisdom was sought after in matters of medicine and herbal remedies.

In addition to his intellectual and healing attributes, Thoth was also revered as a protector of the dead. He guided souls through the perilous journey of the afterlife, ensuring their safe passage to the realm of Osiris, the god of the underworld. Thoth’s role as a psychopomp, or guide of souls, highlights his importance in Egyptian funerary rituals and beliefs surrounding the afterlife.

In conclusion, Thoth played a vital role in ancient Egyptian culture as the god of wisdom, writing, and knowledge. His association with writing and the invention of hieroglyphics revolutionized the way Egyptians communicated and recorded their history. Thoth’s influence extended beyond intellectual pursuits, as he was also revered as a healer, protector of the dead, and the measurer of time. The legacy of Thoth continues to resonate in modern times, as his wisdom and intellectual prowess remain an inspiration for seekers of knowledge and understanding.

 

 

The name of Thoth.

The name of the god with whom this essay is concerned
occurs with considerable frequency in the texts of the Old
Kingdom. In the oldest texts, however, it is written mainly
with the familiar symbol of the god – – an ibis on a perch,
and only very rarely do we find in the most ancient texts the
fully written form of the name. The Old Kingdom gives us

as a scriptio plena of Thoth’s name ~l|%^.(i) This form of
script is common also in the funerary texts of the Middle
Kingdom, and is especially frequent in the inscriptions of the
nomarchs of El-Bersheh. In addition to this script the texts
of the Middle Kingdom show the following forms of the name :

Old Kingdom : DHwt (funerary) (to Coptic Tʰout /Ⲑⲟⲩⲧ; d became t )
Middle Kingdom : DHwt (funerary), DHw  , HDt
Middle Kingdom-New : dHwt
New Kingdom-Late : dHwt , dHw , tiHwy
Late Kingdom : DdHtw  (Ptolemaic)
Demotic : Tahuti

Other names :
aan/A’an– dog-headed ape, connection to the moon
fnDy– Fenedjy in Egyptian.

Nickname for him it means Nosey, Long Nose, or Beaky.
hAb/Hab/ ϩⲓⲃⲱⲓ/ hibōi– Ibis
ỉ ,  , ,  (Greco-Roman ?)
iaH-DHwty– God of the moon Djehuty
Isdes, /Astennu, isdn/ Asten, Istes– Baboon form, a helper
isdnnw–
Iśtn–
iw–
nty–
mHy/Mehi–
snbw–Lord of Khemennu
StA–shetah Mysterious one
Sps–Sheps
tx–The god of weight
tx– (Ibis)
wp-rHwy , Ȧp-reḥui    ‘Jduge of the two combatants’
xnty–Khenti
Trismégistos, Hermes Trismegistus , wrote Corpus Hermeticum (Greek)

Epitaphs :
aA aA = Twice great (479 Engraved, Millawi Museum)
aAwy (wr) =Twice great (Ibis dead)
aAaAaA= Hermes Trismegistos; Greek equivalent (ΕΡΜΗΣ Ο ΜΕΓΑΕ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΕ)
aAaAaA wr=Three times great, great  (hawk headed)
aA imy wnt = The great one in the wnt (nome) Hermopolis
​arq ib = gain full knowledge
bA ra= soul of Ra
bnti= ape
​bxn-Snw=Does not except bribes
di anx mi ra Dt = giving life like Re forever (479 Engraved, Millawi Museum)
DHwty imy Xmnw = Djehuty/Thoth in the Hermopolis (Book of the Dead)
DHwty iqr= The excellent Djehuty/Thoth
DHwty nb mdw nTr aA nTr nb imntt= Djehuty/Thoth lord of divine words, great god, lord of the Underworld (Inner Coffin of Nesi-Pa-Ur-Shef)
DHwty nb mdw nTr = Djehuty/Thoth lord of divine words
DHwty nb mdw nTr sS n nTrw=Djehuty/Thoth lord of divine words, scribe of the gods (Inner Coffin of Nesi-Pa-Ur-Shef)
DHwty nswt HH = Djehuty/Thoth the King of eternity (Book of the Dead)
DHwty rdi mdw drf = Djehuty/Thoth gives the speech of the divine books (Book of the Dead)
DHwty smAa-xrw wsir r xftA.f = Djehuty/Thoth makes Wesir/Osiris victorious over his enemies. (Book of the Dead)
DHwty srs nTr iAmw nTrw= Djehuty/Thoth who awakens the gods (Line 13 mortuary temple of Seti I at Abydos)
fnDy pri m Xmnw = The one with the beak comes from the Hermopolis
hb(y) mnx HqA= Ibis excellent of magic  (Faulkner p.191)
hby wr=Great Ibis
HD-itn= Silver Aton (Late Period)
HkA wr = Great Magician (Boylan)
HqA Dd =Ruler of eternity
HqA Hr irt = Ruler of the Eye of Horu/Horus  (Boylan)
HqA mDAt =Ruler of the books (Boylan)
HqA wDa mdw = Ruler of the judging (Boylan)
Hr-ib Hr mAat = delighted in righteousness (Boylan)
Hr-ib pr-anx = Dweller in the Per-ankh ‘library’ (Boylan, Ptolemaic)
hrw tAwy =Who gives contentment to the two lands
Hry tp DADA mAat = Chief of the Just magistrates (at the judgement of the dead)​​
Hry tp mDAt = Chief of the books​  (Boylan)
Hry mxAty  = He that sits on the balance
Hsb =  The reckoner (Boylan)
Hsb aHaw = reckoner of time (Boylan) ​​
Hsb inw = reckoner of gifts (Boylan) ​
Hsb rnpwt = reckoner of years (Boylan) ​​
Hsrt , Hs-rx = He who praises knowledge (Book of Thoth)
Hsy n Ra = Praised of Rā (Boylan)
Htp Hr mAat = Pleased with mAat (Boylan) ​​
iaH iAxw m Hrt =The moon shinning in heaven
ib mAat= True of heart
ib nw ra = Heart of Ra (Boylan)
ib ra/ Heart of Ra  (Boylan)
i mnx HqA nb mdw-nTr= Oh excellent in magic lord of Hieroglyphics (Faulkner p.93 1933; p.53 1938)
ip.f ibw =he who discerns of the hearts (Book of the Dead)
ipy ib = discerns the hearts  (Boylan, Thoth the Hermes of Egypt)
ip(y) ib nTr = discerns the heart of the god (Ptolemaic Period)
ini wDA = who brings the Wdjat eye (Boylan, Thoth the Hermes of Egypt)
iqr = the excellent one (Boylan)
​iqr Dd = excellent in speech (Boylan)
iry Hmw = guardian/master of the rudder
iry mnx nbw = Universal benefactor (Boylan)
iry mty = Who accomplishes truth/straightforward, mə/ⲙⲉ (Coptic) (Boylan)
iry n mri nTrwt =Who does what the Goddesses love (Boylan, Edfu)
iry tit =Who fasioned signs  (Boylan)
​iry tp nfr = Who does good
irt n ra =Eye of Ra
itn HD(t) = The silver sun (Boylan)
iw = a term for Djehuty/Thoth
mAa =the guide
mAa ib = true of heart
mAa pt tA dwAt = Guide of heaven, earth and the underworld
mAat (H20-X1:Z2)   = be in oder (of balance)
mH ib-= Filler of hearts
mk.n Axw.f ms sw=Whose spells protect the one who bore him  (Faulkner p.186)
mnx HqA= great of Magic
​mnx sH = excellent in counsel
mri mAat = One who loves Ma’at (Boylan)
mrw DHwty = beloved of Djehuty/Thoth
mtr = bear witness (Boylan)
mtr mAat = righteousness witness (Boylan)
mtr mAat n nTrw=righteousness witness for the Gods (Boylan)
nb abw = lord of purification (Boylan)
nb anx = lord of life (Boylan)
nb Awy-ib =Lord of gladness (Boylan)
nb Dt= lord of everlastingness
nb iSwm?= Lord of Eshmun
nb HH = Lord of eternity (Boylan)
nb hpw = Lord of laws (Boylan) ​
nb HqA= Lord of magic  (Faulkner p.189)
​nb imntt = Lord of the Underworld
nb mAa t= Lord of Ma’at (justice/ righteousness)
nb mdw =Lord of words (Boylan)
nb mdw nTr = Lord of hieroglyphics ‘words of god’
nb pt = lord of heaven
nb Sat = Lord of Terror (Boylan)
nb sS = Lord of writing   (Boylan)
​nb wp = lord of judging
nb xmnw = Lord of Khemnu (Lord of Hermopolis)
nb xrw = Lord of speech
ntf ir nn m sXA m Dbaw.f = He is the one who made this in writing with his fingers (CT IV, 411)  (J.P.A.)
nTr aA= The great god
ns n itm = tongue of Atum  (Boylan)
ns n ra = tongue of Rā  (Boylan)
nswt sS= Royal scribe
nswt tn HH = King of eternity  (Boylan)
n xm n ib.f = whose heart is not ignorant (Boylan, Edfu)
nxt nTrw = strong of the gods  (Boylan)
pA grw= the silent one (Boylan)
pr-anx=dweller in the library
ra pwy psD m grH = Ra that shines in the night  (Boylan)
rdi aHa nty m Hsi.f = who gives length of life to him who is in his favor (Boylan)
rdi wDAt n nb.s=Who gives the Wdjat eye to it’s owner (Boylan)
​rdi xrw drf =Who gave words and script (Boylan, Karnak Thutmosis) ; To make writing speak (Budge)
​rdwy hpw = who gives the laws
rdwy Spsi n nTrw nbw = Who gives praise to all the Gods
rx tp-Hsb = knowledge of the reckoning (Boylan, Edfu)
​rx mrxt = who knows the balance
rx-sw=The knowing one
SAa ti.t nxb HqAw= Who first fashioned signs and wrote magic  (Faulkner p.198)  (Boylan)
sAb m r(A) sS sxm sS m sbxt aAt = dignitary of the mouth of the scribe the mighty scribe of the Hall of the Supreme Court
at Heliopolis (P. Boylan, Thoth the Hermes of Egypt)
sAb sbxti = dignitary of the (legal title)
SA hpw = Who decide the laws  (Boylan, Stela of Tutankhamun)
sA ra = Son of Rā
shri ib nTrw m Dd.f =Who makes content the heart of the gods with his words (Boylan)
sHtp nsrt = to appease the royal serpent
sHtp nTrw = Who appeases the gods (Boylan)
sHt snwy =Who appeases the two brother gods (Boylan)
siA = the knowing one  (Boylan, Stela of Tutanchamon)
siA m HqA= knowledgeable in magic (Faulkner “wise in magic” p. 125)
smA wsir r xfty = Who makes Osiris triumphant against his foes
smAa-xrw =Justifies (the living and dead)
smn hpw = Who establishes the laws  (Boylan, Edfu)
srA dwAyt = Who announces the morning (Boylan)
sS = The scribe
sS mAa n psDt =righteous scribe of the Ennead/ Ἐννεάς (Pesdjet)
SaA m rxw = skilled in the knowledge (Boylan, Karnak)
sS mAat n pAwt nTrw aA = righteous scribe of the offering bread of the great gods
sS iqr = Excellent/skilled Scribe
sS mAat=Scribe of Ma’at
sS mAat n psDt wrt=Scribe of righteousness for the Great Ennead
sS mAat m wsxt aAt= Scribe of righteousness in the Hall
sS mDAt nTr =scribe of the divine book
sS m rx = skilled in knowledge  (Boylan, Karnak, Hypostyle)
sS nTr= scribe of God
sSm = the guide
sSm pt tA dwAt= Guide of heaven, earth and the underworld
sStA = The mysterious one
sStAt imnt imyt dwAt= The secret one in west in the midst of the underworld
st itm = Throne of Atum (Boylan)
st(y) ra = Throne of Rā (Boylan, Book of Heavenly Cow)
swDA wDAt = who makes the eye whole (P. Boylan, Thoth the Hermes of Egypt)
sxm nTrw= power of the gods
sxm nTry = divine power (Boylan)
sxm wr= great in power (Pyr 1725b)
TAti = the vizier (Boylan, Philae)
tp sS = chief scribe
Txn = ibis as the ape that sits on the balance
wa waw = the unique one  (Boylan, Edfu)
wb awy = clean of hands  (Boylan)
wDA d(t) = sound of hand  (Boylan)
wDA ib = sound of heart  (Boylan)
wDa mAat=Weighing of righteousness (Boylan)
wDa-mAa psDt (nTrw) aAt = righteous judge of the great Ennead (of the Gods)
wDa mdt=Weighing of the words
wp = Judge
wp rHyw =Judge of two combating gods (Rivals Horus and Set)  (Book of Dead)
wpwty = Messenger
wr =The great one (Boylan)
wr wr wr = Three times great , thrice great one (Book of Thoth)
wr HkA(w)= great of magic (Faulkner p.184)    , (Ritner)
wr mdw nTr = great in mdw nTr/ word of god/ Hieroglyphics
wr xmwn= The Great One in Khmoun (Hermopolis Megale) (Anastasi V 9.3)
wsr Ddw.f = mighty in his words (Dendereh) (Boylan)
xk aHaw = the time-determiner (Boylan)
xpr mwt sp tp=He who came into being at the beginning (Boylan)
Xr Hb /ẖry-ḥꜢb.t (Demotic) = lector priest
xrp ssA m wsxt ȧ -= Make wise the governor in the great hall
Xnw pt= inside of the sky
xnty pr-mDAt= foremost of the house of books
ar tr ? = measurer of time​

Greek Epitaphs
Trismégistos/τρισμέγιστοϛ : Thrice greatest ‘three times’ (applied to Hermes as well)
Ermea o melae/ ΕΡΜΗΣ Ο ΜΕΓΑΕ ΚΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΕ : Hermes Trismegistos
Θωνθ ω ω ω νοβ Ζμουν / ⲑⲱⲩⲑ ⲱ ⲱ ⲱ ⲛⲟⲃ ⲙⲟⲩⲛ (Old Coptic), ⲑⲟⲟⲩⲧ (ⲱ , ⲟ , ⲁⲓ) ⲛⲉⲃ/ⲛⲏⲃ ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ / DHwti aA aA aA nb xmnw : Thoth, thrice great, lord of Hermopolis
​Ermês ho Trismégistos/Ἑρμῆς ὁ Τρισμέγιστος, “Hermes thrice-great”;

Thoth lord of the priests 
Thoth lord of the scribes

The Mythology and Symbolism of Egyptian God Thoth.

In the rich tapestry of ancient Egyptian mythology, one deity stands out for his wisdom, knowledge, and influence over various domains. This deity is Thoth, the god of writing, magic, and wisdom. Thoth, also known as Djehuty, played a significant role in Egyptian cosmology and was revered as one of the most important gods in their pantheon.

Thoth’s origins can be traced back to the earliest periods of Egyptian history. He was believed to be the son of the creator god, Ra, and the goddess of the sky, Nut. As the god of writing and knowledge, Thoth was often depicted with the head of an ibis, a bird associated with wisdom and learning. This unique representation symbolized his role as the scribe of the gods and the inventor of writing.

One of the most famous myths surrounding Thoth is his involvement in the judgment of the deceased. According to Egyptian beliefs, after death, the soul would stand before the god Osiris, who would weigh their heart against the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and justice. Thoth played a crucial role in this process, recording the results and ensuring fairness in the judgment. His presence in this myth highlights his role as a mediator and a guardian of cosmic order.

Thoth’s association with writing and knowledge extended beyond the realm of the gods. He was also believed to have given humanity the gift of hieroglyphic writing, which allowed the Egyptians to record their history, religious texts, and everyday life. This invention revolutionized Egyptian society, enabling the preservation and transmission of knowledge across generations. Thoth’s influence on writing and language made him a patron deity of scribes, scholars, and intellectuals.

In addition to his role as a scribe, Thoth was also revered as a powerful magician. He was believed to possess the knowledge of spells and incantations that could manipulate the forces of nature. Thoth’s magical abilities were often depicted in Egyptian art, where he was shown holding a staff or an ankh, symbols of his authority over magic and life. His association with magic made him a popular deity among those seeking protection, healing, and guidance.

Thoth’s influence extended beyond writing and magic. He was also associated with the moon, which was believed to be his eye. The moon’s waxing and waning cycles mirrored Thoth’s role as a mediator between light and darkness, order and chaos. This connection to the moon further emphasized his role as a deity of balance and harmony.

Throughout Egyptian history, Thoth’s influence remained strong. His wisdom and knowledge were sought after by pharaohs and commoners alike. Temples dedicated to Thoth were built across Egypt, and his cult grew in popularity. The city of Hermopolis Magna, located in Upper Egypt, was particularly associated with Thoth and served as a center for his worship.

In conclusion, Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing, magic, and wisdom, played a significant role in ancient Egyptian mythology. His association with writing, knowledge, and judgment made him a revered deity among the Egyptians. Thoth’s influence extended beyond the realm of the gods, as he was believed to have given humanity the gift of writing and was revered as a powerful magician. His association with the moon further emphasized his role as a deity of balance and harmony. Thoth’s legacy continues to captivate scholars and enthusiasts, reminding us of the profound impact of ancient Egyptian mythology on human civilization.