Thoth, the Egyptian God of Wisdom and Writing

Thoth, the Egyptian God of Wisdom and Writing hero image
Thoth

The god Thoth was worshiped in the form of an Ibis, and is often shown in human form with the unusual head of that bird.

Thoth was primarily thought to be the god of wisdom. He was patron of arts and science and also the patron god of scribes. He was the inventor of the words of god, or Hieroglyphs.

Thoth is particularly familiar from the famous judgment scene shown in the Book of the Dead, Here the heart of the deceased was tested for purity by weighing it against the feather of the goddess Maat, symbolising truth. If the heart failed the test it was thrown to the 'Eater of Souls'

Thoth was depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon. The ibis was a sacred bird in Egypt, and it was said to be a symbol of wisdom. The baboon was also a sacred animal, and it was said to be a symbol of intelligence.

Thoth was believed to have created the world with his words. He was also the god of language and writing, and he was credited with inventing hieroglyphs, the writing system of ancient Egypt. Thoth was also the god of magic, and he was said to be able to control the forces of nature.

Thoth was a very important figure in the Egyptian afterlife. He was the scribe of the gods, and he was responsible for recording the deeds of the dead. He was also the judge of the dead, and he helped to determine their fate in the afterlife.

Thoth was a popular god in ancient Egypt, and he was worshipped by people of all social classes. He was a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and magic, and he was revered for his ability to help people in the afterlife.

Here are some of the most important roles of Thoth:

  • The god of wisdom: Thoth was known as the "lord of the library" and the "scribe of the gods." He was believed to be the source of all knowledge, and he was consulted by the gods on matters of great importance.
  • The god of writing: Thoth was credited with inventing hieroglyphs, the writing system of ancient Egypt. He was also the patron god of scribes, and he was believed to help them with their work.
  • The god of magic: Thoth was a master of magic, and he was often called upon to help people with their problems. He was also the god of medicine, and he was credited with healing the sick.
  • The god of the moon: Thoth was associated with the moon, and he was sometimes depicted as a moon god. He was also the god of time, and he was said to control the movement of the stars and planets.

Thoth was a complex and fascinating god who played an important role in ancient Egyptian religion. He was a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, and magic, and he was revered by people of all social classes.

Books:

Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient EgyptComplete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
Egyptian MythologyEgyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt
The Gods of Ancient EgyptThe Gods of Ancient Egypt
Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete BeginnersEgyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners
The Egyptian Book of the DeadThe Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by DayThe Complete Papyrus of Ani Featuring Integrated Text and Full-Color Images
Hieroglyphs Without MysteryHieroglyphs Without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing
How to Read Egyptian HieroglyphsHow to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself, Revised Edition
Egyptian HieroglyphicsEgyptian Hieroglyphics: How to Read and Write ThemYourself, Revised Edition
Hieroglyph (TC's Adventures Book 1)Hieroglyph (TC's Adventures Book 1)

You Might Also Like:

World History related image
Read More

World History

Welcome to our World History section, a vast treasure trove of historical knowledge that takes you on a captivating journey through the annals of human civilization. Our collection spans a wide spectrum of topics, providing an exhaustive resource for history enthusiasts, students, and curious minds ...
Read More

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt (epigraphy) Egypt attracted the special curiosity of the Greeks, and Herodotus (5th century BC) devoted an entire book to on-the-spot observations and fanciful tales about the land of the Nile. The lost Aigyptiaka (or Aegyptiaca) of Manetho (3rd century BC) contained the roster of 30 d...
Read More

Religions Of Egypt

Ancient Egypt, Religions Of Egypt Author: Foot Moore, GeorgeChapter II The Middle Kingdom And The Empire The Rise of Thebes - The Sun as Supreme God - Local Gods - Identifications - Enneads and Triads - The Dead - Judgment before Osiris - Moral Ideas - The Empire - Amon-Re the National God - Power o ...
Read More

Egyptian and Hittite Empires, 1279 BCE

Conquest by Hyksos and Egyptian Expansion to Ramses II Eventually, like previous dynasties, the Twelfth Dynasty fell. And the Thirteenth Dynasty, at Memphis, waned across its 150 years of rule and fell with what by now was an old phenomenon: invasion by a foreign army, around the year 1650 BCE. The ...
Read More

Ancient Egypt

Welcome to the ideal place to start exploring the wonders of the Ancient Egypt. Find out all about this amazing culture, and learn about the gods they worshiped, the Pharaohs that ruled and the tombs and statues they left behind. find out about Tutankhamun, Akhenaten and the other celebrities of t...
Read More

Maps of Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt had its origin in the course of the Nile River. It reached three periods of great pharaonic splendor: the Ancient Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom. Ancient Egypt map domain stretched from the delta of the Nile in the north, to Elephantine Island, where is the first catar...
Read More

Burial Customs

Mummy and Coffin of Meresamun Cartonnage, pigment, human remainsThird Intermediate Period, Dynasty 22, ca. 946-712 B.C.Purchased in Luxor, 1920OIM 10797 This colorful cartonnage mummy case, which still contains the mummy of an ancient Egyptian woman, is inscribed with the name Meresamun ("She lives ...
Read More

King List

The Early Dynastic Period -0 : 1 : 2 : The Old Kingdom -3 : 4 : 5 : 6 : The First Intermediate Period -7+8 : 9+10 : The Middle Kingdom -11 : 12 : The Second Intermediate Period -13 : 14 : 15 : 16 : 17 : The New Kingdom -18 : 19 : 20 : The Third Intermediate Period -High Priests (Thebes) : 21 : 22 : ...
Read More

Mummy

Interesting facts and information about the mummification process. The mummy shown here dates from the Roman Period. It has a distinctive painting inlaid into the head part, and is intricately bandaged and studded. The feet are molded in gold painted plaster, which is typical of the period. ...
Read More

Osiris And Isis

Osiris is perhaps the most famous of the gods of Ancient Egypt. Here he is shown in his typical guise as a mummified pharaoh holding the hook and flail, the traditional symbols of royal authority. Osiris is usually depicted wearing the feathered Atef crown. Osiris is a common feature in Egyptian fu...
Read More

Anubis related image
Read More

Anubis

The Ancient Egyptians held a great reverence for the Jackal headed god Anubis, who oversaw the embalming and mummification process as well as escorting the deceased through the procedures for entering the underworld.When the person arrived for judgment, they would first declare their purity before...
Read More

The 4 Sons of Horus

The Four Sons of Horus were traditionally the guardians of the internal organs of the deceased. Each was associated with a particular organ, and also with a different cardinal point on the compass. The Four Sons Of Horus GodProtectsHeadPointGoddessImsetyLiverHumanSouthIsisHapyLungsBaboonNorthNephthy...
Read More

The Mysteries of Akhenaten

Although we know a great deal about Akhenaten compared to some of the other Pharaohs, there are still some major mysteries concerning his reign. Various 'experts' have differing theories concerning this enigmatic ruler. On this page I will detail some of the various theories which have been presente...
Read More

Tutankhamun

King Nebkheperura Tutankhamun remains the most famous of all the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, but in fact he was a short lived and fairly insignificant ruler during a transitional period in history. Little was known of him prior to Howard Carters methodical detective work, but the discovery of his to...
Read More

Nefertiti

Famed throughout the ancient world for her outstanding beauty, Akhenaten's queen Nefertiti remains the one of the most well known of the queens of Egypt. The famous statue of Nefertiti, found in a sculptors workshop in Akhetaten, is one of the most immediately recognisable icons from this period of ...
Read More

Cat Mummies

One of the most popular cults to arise in Late Period Egypt was of the cat goddess Bast. At this time many thousands of Cats were mummified for sale to pilgrims, who presented them to the goddess as an offering. X-rays show that the cats were often killed by having their necks broken. The bodies we...
Read More