Thoth
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2008-07-15T21:05:32Z
A. Parrot
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:''For other meanings of "Thoth", or of "Djehuti" and similar, see [[Thoth (disambiguation)]].''
[[Image:Thoth.svg|thumb|Thoth, in one of his forms as an ibis-headed man]]
<!--[[Image:Thoth.jpg|right|thumb|Thoth ([[Ramesseum]], [[Luxor]])]]-->
'''Thoth''' (his [[Greek language|Greek]] name derived from the Egyptian '''*{{unicode|ḏiḥautī}}''', written by [[Egyptians]] as ''{{unicode|ḏḥwty}}'') was considered one of the most important [[god (male deity)|deities]] of the [[Egyptian pantheon]], often depicted with the head of an [[Sacred Ibis|Ibis]]. His feminine counterpart was [[Seshat]].<ref>Thutmose III: A New Biography
By Eric H Cline, David O'Connor University of Michigan Press (January 5, 2006)p. 127</ref> His chief shrine was at Khemennu, where he led the local pantheon, later renamed [[Hermopolis]] by the Greeks (in reference to him through the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks']] interpretation that he was the same as Hermes) and Eshmûnên in [[Coptic language|Coptic]]. He also had shrines in [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]], Hesert, Urit, [[Per (hieroglyph)|Per]]-Ab, Rekhui, Ta-ur, Sep, Hat, Pselket, Talmsis, Antcha-Mutet, Bah, Amen-heri-ab, and Ta-kens.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Thoth was said to be born from the skull of set also said to be born from the heart of Ra.p. 401)</ref>
He was considered the [[heart]] and [[tongue]] of [[Ra]] as well as the means by which Ra's [[Will (philosophy)|will]] was translated into [[speech communication|speech]].<ref name="Budge 407">(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 407)</ref> He has also been likened to the [[Logos]] of [[Plato]]<ref name="Budge 407" /> and the [[Nous|mind]] of God.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 415)</ref> (see [[The All]]) In the [[Egyptian mythology]], he has played many vital and prominent roles, including being one of the two deities (the other being [[Ma'at]]) who stood on either side of Ra's boat.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 400)</ref> He has further been involved in [[arbitration]],<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 405)</ref> [[magic (paranormal)|magic]], [[writing]], [[science]],<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 414)</ref> and the judging of the dead.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' p. 403)</ref>
==Name==
===Etymology ===
{{Hiero|Common names for Thoth<ref>Hieroglyphs verified, in part, in (Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 402) and (Collier and Manley p. 161)</ref>|
<hiero>G26-t:Z4</hiero>, or <br />
<hiero>d-H-w-t:Z4-R8</hiero>, or <br />
<hiero>G26:t*Z4</hiero>
|align=right|era=egypt}}
According to [[Theodor Hopfner]],<ref>Hopfner, Theodor, b. 1886. Der tierkult der alten Agypter nach den griechisch-romischen berichten und den wichtigeren denkmalern. Wien, In kommission bei A. Holder, 1913. Call#= 060 VPD v.57</ref> Thoth's Egyptian name written as ''{{unicode|ḏḥwty}}'' originated from ''{{unicode|ḏḥw}}'', claimed to be the oldest known name for the [[ibis]] although normally written as ''{{unicode|hbj}}''. The addition of -ty denotes that he possessed the attributes of the ibis.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 402)</ref> Hence his name means "He who is like the ibis".
The [[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] pronunciation of ''{{unicode|ḏḥwty}}'' is not fully known, but may be reconstructed as *{{unicode|ḏiḥautī}}, based on the [[Ancient Greek]] borrowing {{Polytonic|Θωθ}} ''Thōth'' or ''Theut'' and the fact that it evolved into [[Coptic language|Sahidic Coptic]] variously as ''Thoout'', ''Thōth'', ''Thoot'', ''Thaut'' as well as [[Coptic language|Bohairic Coptic]] ''Thōout''. The final ''-{{unicode|y}}'' may even have been pronounced as a [[consonant]], not a vowel. <ref>Information taken from phonetic symbols for Djehuty, and explanations on how to pronounce based upon modern rules, revealed in (Collier and Manley pp. 2-4, 161)</ref> However, many write "Djehuty", inserting the letter 'e' automatically between consonants in Egyptian words, and writing 'w' as 'u', as a convention of convenience for English speakers, not the transliteration employed by Egyptologists.<ref>(Collier and Manley p. 4)</ref>
===Alternate names===
{{Hiero|Alternate names for Thoth<ref>Hieroglyphs from (Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 pp. 402-3)</ref> |'''A''' <br /> <hiero>i-A40</hiero>
'''Sheps, lord of Khemennu''' <br /> <hiero>A51-s-V30-Aa12:Aa12:Aa12:Aa12-Aa12:Aa12:Aa12:Aa12-O49</hiero>
'''Asten''' <br /> <hiero>i-s-D46:n</hiero> (hieroglyph not found)
'''Khenti''' <br /> (hieroglyph not found) <hiero>n:t*Z4</hiero>
'''Mehi''' <br /> <hiero>V12-V28-i-i-A40</hiero>
'''Hab''' <br /> <hiero>O4-G4-D58-U13-G28</hiero>
'''Aan''' <br /> <hiero>D36:D36:n</hiero> (hieroglyph not found)
'''Iah-Djehuty''' <br /> <hiero>i-D36-V28-N10-G26:t*Z4</hiero> <br />
|align=right|era=egypt}}
''Djehuty'' is sometimes alternatively rendered as '''Tahuti''', '''Tehuti''', '''Zehuti''', '''Techu''', or '''Tetu'''. ''Thoth'' (also '''Thot''' or '''Thout''') is the [[Greek language|Greek]] version derived from the letters ''{{unicode|ḏḥwty}}''.
Not counting differences in spelling, Thoth had many names and titles, like other goddesses and gods. Similarly, each [[Pharaoh]], considered a god himself, had five different names used in public.<ref>(Collier and Manley p. 20)</ref> Among his alternate names are A, Sheps, Lord of Khemennu, Asten, Khenti, Mehi, Hab, and A'an.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 pp. 402-3)</ref> In addition, Thoth was also known by specific aspects of himself, for instance the moon god [[Iah]]-Djehuty, representing the moon for the entire month,<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 pp. 412-3)</ref> or as {{lang|egy|jt-[[nṯr]]}} "god father".
Further, the Greeks related Thoth to their god [[Hermes]] due to his similar attributes and functions.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' p. 402)</ref> One of Thoth 's titles, "Three times great, great" (see [[Thoth#Titles|Titles]]) was translated to the Greek {{lang|grc|τρισμεγιστος}} (Trismegistos) making [[Hermes Trismegistus]].<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 415)</ref>
==Depictions==
Thoth has been depicted in many ways depending on the era and on the aspect the artist wished to convey. Usually, he is depicted in [[human]] form with the head of an ibis.<ref name ="Budge 401">(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 401)</ref> In this form, he can be represented as the reckoner of times and seasons by a lunar disk sitting in a crescent moon being placed atop his head. When depicted as a form of [[Shu (Egyptian deity)|Shu]] or Ankher, he will wear the respective god's [[headdress]]. He also is sometimes seen wearing the [[atef]] crown and the United Crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 402)</ref>
When not depicted in this common form, he sometimes takes the form of the ibis directly.<ref name ="Budge 401" /> He also appears as a dog faced [[baboon]] or a man with the head of a baboon when he is A'an, the god of equilibrium.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 403)</ref> In the form of A'ah-Djehuty he took a more human-looking form.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 plate between pp. 408-9)</ref>
These forms are all [[symbol]]ic and are [[metaphor]]s for Thoth's attributes. The Egyptians did not believe these gods actually looked like humans with animal heads <ref>Allen, James P. ''Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs'', p. 44.</ref>. For example, Ma'at is often depicted with an [[ostrich]] [[feather]], "the feather of truth," on her head {{Fact|date=March 2008}}, or with a feather for a head.<ref>(Budge ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 416)</ref>He is also seen holding a scararb inside his cane
==Attributes==
[[Egyptologist]]s disagree on Thoth's nature depending upon their view of the Egyptian pantheon. Most egyptologists today side with [[Sir Flinders Petrie]] that Egyptian religion was strictly [[polytheism|polytheistic]], in which Thoth would be a separate god. His contemporary adversary, [[E. A. Wallis Budge]], however, thought Egyptian religion to be primarily [[monotheism|monotheistic]]<ref>(Budge ''Egyptian Religion'' pp. 17-8)</ref> where all the gods and [[goddess]]es were aspects of the God Ra, similar to the [[Trinity]] in [[Christianity]] and [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] in [[Hinduism]].<ref>(Budge ''Egyptian Religion'' p. 29)</ref> In this view, Thoth would be the aspect of Ra which the Egyptian mind would relate to the heart and tongue.
His roles in Egyptian mythology were many. Thoth served as a [[mediation|mediating]] power, especially between [[Goodness and value theory|good]] and [[evil]], making sure neither had a decisive victory over the other.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 405)</ref> He also served as scribe of the gods,<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 408)</ref> credited with the invention of writing and alphabets (ie. hieroglyphs) themselves.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 414)</ref> In the [[underworld]], [[Duat]], he appeared as an ape, [[A'an]], the god of equilibrium, who reported when the scales weighing the deceased's heart against the feather, representing the principle of Ma'at, was exactly even.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 403)</ref>
The ancient Egyptians regarded Thoth as One, self-begotten, and self-produced.<ref name ="Budge 401" /> He was the master of both [[nature|physical]] and [[morality|moral]] (ie. [[divinity|Divine]]) [[law]],<ref name ="Budge 401" /> making proper use of Ma'at.<ref name="Budge 407" /> He is credited with making the calculations for the establishment of the heavens, stars, Earth,<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 401)</ref> and everything in them.<ref name="Budge 407" /> Compare this to how his feminine counterpart, Ma'at was the force which maintained the Universe.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 pp. 407-8)</ref> He is said to direct the motions of the heavenly bodies. Without his words, the Egyptians believed, the gods would not exist.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 408)</ref> His power was almost unlimited in the Underworld and rivalled that of Ra and Osiris.<ref name ="Budge 401" />
The Egyptians credited him as the author of all works of science, [[religion]], [[philosophy]], and magic.<ref>(Hall ''The Hermetic Marriage'' p. 224)</ref> The Greeks further declared him the inventor of [[astronomy]], [[astrology]], [[numerology|the science of numbers]], [[mathematics]], [[geometry]], [[land surveying]], [[medicine]], [[botany]], [[theology]], [[civilized]] [[government]], the [[alphabet]], [[reading (activity)|reading]], writing, and [[oratory]]. They further claimed he was the true author of every work of every branch of knowledge, human and divine.<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 414)</ref>
==Mythology==
Thoth has played a prominent role in many of the Egyptian myths. Displaying his role as arbitrator, he had overseen the three epic battles between good and evil. All three battles are fundamentally the same and belong to different periods. The first battle took place between Ra and [[Apep]], the second between Heru-Bekhutet and [[Set (mythology)|Set]], and the third between [[Horus]], the son of [[Osiris]], and Set. In each instance, the former god represented order while the latter represented chaos. If one god was seriously injured, Thoth would heal them to prevent either from overtaking the other.
Thoth was also prominent in the Osiris myth, being of great aid to [[Isis]]. After Isis gathered together the pieces of Osiris' dismembered body, he gave her the words to [[Resurrection|resurrect]] him so she could be impregnated and bring forth Horus. When Horus was slain, Thoth gave the [[Alchemy|formulae]] to resurrect him as well. Similar to God speaking the words to create the [[Cosmos|heavens]] and [[Earth]] in [[Judeo-Christian]] mythology, Thoth, being the god who always speaks the words that fulfill the wishes of Ra, spoke the words that created the heavens and Earth in Egyptian mythology.
This mythology also credits him with the creation of the 365 day [[calendar]]. Originally, according to the myth, the year was only 360 days long and [[Nut (goddess)|Nut]] was sterile during these days, unable to bear children. Thoth gambled with [[Khonsu]], the moon, for 1/72nd of its light (360/72 = 5), or 5 days, and won. During these 5 days, she gave birth to [[Heru-ur#Brother of Isis|Kheru-ur]] (Horus the Elder, Face of Heaven), Osiris, Set, Isis, and [[Nepthys]].
In the [[Ogdoad]] [[cosmogony]] myth, Thoth gave birth to Ra, [[Atum]], [[Nefertum]], and [[Khepri]] by laying an [[egg (biology)|egg]] while in the form of an ibis, or later as a [[goose]] laying a [[golden egg]].
==History==
[[Image:thothbw1.JPG|right|thumb|Thoth, sitting on his throne.]]
He was originally the deification of the [[moon]] in the [[Ogdoad]] belief system. Initially, in that system, the moon had been seen to be the eye of [[Horus]], the sky god, which had been semi-blinded (thus darker) in a fight against [[Set (mythology)|Set]], the other eye being the sun. However, over time it began to be considered separately, becoming a [[lunar deity]] in its own right, and was said to have been another son of [[Ra]]. As the crescent moon strongly resembles the curved beak of the [[ibis]], this separate deity was named Djehuty (i.e. Thoth), meaning ''ibis''.
Thoth became associated with the Moon, due to the Ancient Egyptians observation that Baboons (sacred to Thoth) 'sang' to the moon at night.
The Moon not only provides light at night, allowing the [[time]] to still be measured without the sun, but its [[phases of the moon|phases]] and prominence gave it a significant importance in early [[astrology]]/[[astronomy]]. The cycles of the moon also organized much of Egyptian society's civil, and religious, rituals, and events. Consequently, Thoth gradually became seen as a god of [[wisdom]], [[magic and religion|magic]], and the measurement, and regulation, of events, and of time. He was thus said to be the secretary and counsellor of Ra, and with [[Ma'at]] ([[truth]]/order) stood next to Ra on the nightly voyage across the [[sky]], Ra being a [[solar deity|sun god]].
Thoth became credited by the ancient Egyptians as the inventor of [[writing]], and was also considered to have been the scribe of the underworld, and the moon became occasionally considered a separate entity, now that Thoth had less association with it, and more with wisdom. For this reason Thoth was universally worshipped by ancient Egyptian Scribes. Many scribes had a painting or a picture of Thoth in their "office". Likewise, one of the symbols for scribes was that of the ibis.
In [[art]], Thoth was usually depicted with the head of an ibis, deriving from his name, and the curve of the ibis' beak, which resembles the crescent moon. Sometimes, he was depicted as a [[baboon]] holding up a crescent moon, as the baboon was seen as a nocturnal, and intelligent, creature. The association with baboons led to him occasionally being said to have as a consort [[Astennu]], one of the (male) baboons at the place of judgement in [[duat|the underworld]], and on other occasions, Astennu was said to be Thoth himself.
During the [[History of Egypt|late period of Egyptian history]] a [[cult]] of Thoth gained prominence, due to its main centre, Khnum ([[Hermopolis Magna]]), also becoming the capital, and millions of dead [[ibis]] were mummified and buried in his honour. The rise of his cult also led to his cult seeking to adjust mythology to give Thoth a greater role.
Thoth was inserted in many tales as the wise counsel and persuader, and his association with learning, and measurement, led him to be connected with [[Seshat]], the earlier deification of wisdom, who was said to be his daughter, or variably his wife. Thoth's qualities also led to him being identified by the Greeks with their closest matching god - [[Hermes]], with whom Thoth was eventually combined, as [[Hermes Trismegistus]], also leading to the Greeks naming Thoth's cult centre as Hermopolis, meaning ''city of Hermes''.
It is also viewed that Thoth was the God of Scribe and not a messenger. [[Anubis]] was viewed as the messenger of the gods, as he travelled in and out of the Underworld, to the presence of the gods, and to humans, as well. Some call this fusion [[Hermanubis]]. It is in more favor that Thoth was a record keeper, and not the messenger.
There is also an Egyptian [[pharaoh]] of the [[Sixteenth dynasty of Egypt]] named Djehuty (Thoth) after him, and who reigned for three years.
==Titles==<!-- This section is linked from [[Thoth]] -->
{{Hiero|Titles belonging to Thoth<ref>Hieroglyphs verified in (Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 pp. 401, 405, 415)</ref>|
'''Scribe of Ma'at in the Company of the Gods'''<br /><hiero>Y4-Aa11:t-C10-N10:t-R8</hiero>
'''Lord of Ma'at''' <br /> <hiero>V30:Aa11</hiero>
'''Lord of Divine Words''' <br /> <hiero>R8-S43-D46:t*Z1*Z1*Z1</hiero>
'''Judge of the Two Combatant Gods''' <br /> <hiero>F13-r-V28-Z4-G43-A40-A40</hiero>
'''Judge of the Rekhekhui, <br /> the Pacifier of the Gods, <br /> who Dwelleth in Unnu, <br /> the Great God in the Temple of Abtiti''' <br /> <hiero>G26:t*Z4-A40-F13:r-V28-V28-Z7:Z4-A40-A40-Z1:Z1:Z1 ! s-Y2:t*p-Z4:Y1-R8-R8-R8-A40-Z1:Z1:Z1 ! G17-W6*O1:n-E34:n-W6:t*Z1-O49-R8 ! A40-O29:D36:Y1-G17-O6-t:O1-i-b-t:Z4-T26-t:O49</hiero>
'''Twice Great''' <br /> <hiero>O29:O29</hiero>
'''Thrice Great''' <br /> <hiero>G29-O29:O29:O29</hiero>
'''Three Times Great Great''' <br /> <hiero>O29:O29:O29-G36:r-Y1</hiero> <br />
|align=right|era=egypt}}
Thoth, like many Egyptian gods and nobility, held many titles. Among these were "Scribe of [[Ma'at]] in the Company of the Gods," "Lord of Ma'at," "Lord of Divine Words," "Judge of the Two Combatant Gods,"<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 401)</ref> "Judge of the Rekhekhui, the pacifier of the Gods, who Dwelleth in [[Unnu]], the Great God in the Temple of [[Abtiti]],"<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 405)</ref> "Twice Great," "Thrice Great,"<ref name ="Budge 401" /> " and "Three Times Great, Great."<ref>(Budge ''Gods of the Egyptians'' Vol. 1 p. 415)</ref>
==Thoth in more recent times ==<!-- This section is linked from [[Tahuti]] -->
[[Image:Thoth-Lawrie-Highsmith.jpeg|thumb|left|[[Lee Lawrie]], ''Thoth'' (1939). Library of Congress [[John Adams Building]], Washington, D.C.]]
One of the most popular and cited works on [[tarot]] was connected to this deity. Written by the occultist [[Aleister Crowley]], ''[[The Book of Thoth]]'' is a philosophical text on the occult usage of [[tarot]] and, most notably, Crowley's own created tarot Deck, the ''[[Thoth Tarot]]'' which he also referred to as ''The Book of Thoth'', where the name is taken from a book in Egyptian mythology, believed to contain ancient knowledge originally brought to man by this deity. Translations from papyrus of an actual Book of Thoth claim to exist, titled 'The Ancient Egyptian Book of Thoth' by Jasnow and Zauzich. Crowley commissioned [[Lady Frieda Harris]] to assist him in painting the ''Thoth Deck''.
A text entitled ''The [[Emerald Tablet]]s of Thoth-The-Atlantean'' has been claimed to have been translated by a man named [[Doreal]]. The introduction claims them to be written by an [[Atlantis|Atlantean]] Priest-King named Thoth, who settled a colony in Egypt after Atlantis sank. Doreal further claims the texts are 36,000 years old.<ref> (Doreal p. i)</ref>
One of the largest parades at the [[New Orleans Mardi Gras]] is the Krewe of Thoth.
==See also==
{{commonscat|Thoth}}
*[[Eye of Horus]]
==Notes==
<div class = "references-small">
<references />
</div>
== References ==
* 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.
* 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).
* Budge, E. A. Wallis. ''Egyptian Religion''. Kessinger Publishing, 1900.
* Budge, E. A. Wallis. ''The Gods of the Egyptians'' Volume 1 of 2. New York: Dover Publications, 1969 (original in 1904).
* [[Jaroslav Černý (Egyptologist)|Jaroslav Černý]]. 1948. "Thoth as Creator of Languages." ''Journal of Egyptian Archæology'' 34:121–122.
* Collier, Mark and Manley, Bill. ''How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: Revised Edition''. Berkeley: [[University of California Press]], 1998.
* Doreal. ''The Emerald Tablets of Thoth-The-Atlanean''. Alexandrian Library Press, date undated.
* Fowden, Garth. 1986. ''The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Mind''. Cambridge and New York: [[Cambridge University Press]]. (Reprinted Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993). ISBN 0-691-02498-7.
{{Ancient Egypt topics}}
[[Category:Arts gods]]
[[Category:Egyptian gods]]
[[Category:Hermeticism]]
[[Category:Inventors of writing systems]]
[[Category:Knowledge gods]]
[[Category:Lunar gods]]
[[Category:Predynastic Pharaohs]]
[[Category:Primordial Teachers]]
[[Category:Wisdom gods]]
[[Category:Underworld gods]]
[[Category:Magic gods]]
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