One of the most significant gods in the everyday life of an ancient Egyptian was Thoth. He was the patron of scribes and the creator of hieroglyphic writing. He was also a key god for the Egyptians because his realm included subjects such as science, magic, mathematics, and the moon. As a result, he influenced the lives of both the commoners and the elites. Read on to discover more about Thoth and explore his six key divine aspects.
1. Patron of Scribes and Sacred Texts
Hieroglyphics engraved on stelas, temples, tombs, and papyri provide most of what academics know about ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt, hieroglyphics played an important role in the everyday life of Egyptians, who used them for recording events, mythology, prayers, and spells. But just what are hieroglyphics?
The term hieroglyphics derives from the Greek hierogluphikos, meaning “sacred words.” Ancient Egyptians believed Thoth was the creator of this intricate written language as well as the literary arts for both humans and gods.
According to some myths, at the beginning of time, Thoth created himself through the power of language and, in fact, laid the cosmic egg that housed all of creation. Despite the importance of hieroglyphics, only the most affluent Egyptians (royalty, nobles, priests, and scribes) were capable of understanding the language’s complexities, and even then, mistakes were still made. As the creator of such a complex language, it was only right that Thoth became the patron and protector of scribes and sacred texts.
As the patron of sacred texts, Thoth was also in charge of recording the verdict of the deceased at the heart-weighing ceremony, when the heart of the deceased was weighed against the feather of Ma’at, the personification of truth and justice. Additionally, Thoth had a residence in the afterlife known as the Mansion of Thoth. The Mansion of Thoth was not only Thoth’s home, but it was also a safe haven for journeying souls to rest and learn protective magical spells.
However, Thoth was not the only deity associated with writing and scribes. Seshat, the occasional wife of Thoth, was in charge of maintaining the House of Life and documenting regnal years.
Key Takeaways
- Thoth was the creator of hieroglyphics & the patron of scribes.
- Recorded the verdicts of the heart-weighing ceremonies.
- Resided in the Mansion of Thoth, a safe haven in the afterlife for the souls of the deceased.
2. God of the Sciences
The ancient Egyptians were unquestionably experts in several fields of science, including fermentation, medicine, mummification, engineering, and agriculture. Indeed, the ancient Egyptians are credited with having invented numerous tools. Wigs, locks, the use of papyrus and black ink, shadoofs, toothbrushes and toothpaste, the calendar, and timekeeping devices are all examples of ancient Egyptian innovations that are still in use today.
As the god of sciences, Thoth was the creator of arithmetics, geometry, astronomy, and medicine. He was also credited with inventing the 365-day calendar. Notably, Thoth was not the only patron of medicine in ancient Egypt. Deities such as Sekhmet, Heka, and Isis were all patrons of medicine. However, medicine was specifically associated with Thoth owing to the complexities of the subject and his role in safeguarding Isis during her pregnancy and restoring Horus’ stolen left eye that the god lost during a fight with Seth, the trickster god.
Key Takeaways
- Thot was the god of sciences.
- He created arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy.
- Credited as the inventor of the 365-day calendar.
3. God of Magic
In ancient Egypt, magic was a force intertwined with the world. It could be harnessed for healing and protection, curses and destruction, and the charging of special artifacts such as amulets and stelae. Thought to be as real as nature itself, magic was to be respected.
From birth to death, from eating to pregnancy, from the elite to the commoner, magic was always a part of an Egyptian’s daily existence. Believed to be the embodiment of intelligence, the sciences, and the creator of language itself, Thoth was magic incarnate.
While other deities, such as Heka (the deification of magic), were associated with magic, out of all the Egyptian deities, Thoth was the one regarded as the patron of magic. Indeed, Thoth was believed to have contained the most Heka (magic) and, evidently, to possess the advanced mind to appropriately yield it. According to the ancient Egyptian fable Setne Khamwas and Naneferkaptah, anyone who read from Thoth’s book (the Book of Thoth) would understand the speech of animals and perceive the gods themselves.
Another example of Thoth’s magical prowess is when he broke the curse placed on Nut, the Goddess of the Sky and Heaven, by Ra, the God of Creation. According to the myth, Ra placed a curse on Nut that prevented her from conceiving children on any of the 360 days of the year (likely out of jealousy for Nut’s love of Geb). It wasn’t until Thoth added five more days to the year that Ra’s curse was broken, allowing Nut to be able to conceive during those five days.
Key Takeaways
- Toth was the god of magic; he embodied magic itself.
- The Book of Thoth allowed readers to understand animal speech
- Thoth broke Ra’s curse on Nut, adding five days to the Egyptian calendar.
4. God of Mathematics
Ancient Egyptians were well aware of the importance and the multifunctionality of maths. Everyone would have had daily exposure to maths, whether through warfare, agriculture, astronomy, economics, or architecture.
Despite the fact that Egyptian maths revolved around applied arithmetic and geometry, ancient Egyptians were also able to solve complex problems. Although evidence of mathematics in Egypt is limited, two papyri show Egyptian mathematical skills: the Rhind papyrus and the Moscow papyrus.
The Rhind papyrus demonstrates the use of fractions and problem-solving. The Moscow papyrus, on the other hand, depicts the volume of a truncated pyramid and the ancient Egyptians’ value of Pi equaling 3.16, which is similar to our current value of 3.14.
Egyptians also inspired Greek mathematicians such as Thales and Pythagoras to visit Egypt and acquire their techniques. Thoth, as the personification of knowledge and science, was believed to have invented maths.
As evidenced by his manipulation of Ra’s curse and control over celestial computations, recording of lunar observations and time, maths was merely another tool Thoth used in pursuit of earthly and divine knowledge.
Key Takeaways
- Thoth was the creator of maths.
- Thoth used maths to pursue his divine knowledge.
- Egyptian maths was mainly practical, but mathematicians also used their skills to solve complex calculations.
5. God of the Moon
Very much like a plethora of Egyptian deities, Thoth, too, was associated with a celestial body. Emanating from a deep-rooted history within Egyptian mythology as early as Pre- and Early Dynastic (5000 -2686 BCE), Thoth’s mythological origins are conflicting and contradictory.
Originally, Thoth was not a lunar god. However, Thoth’s role expanded to include maintaining cosmic order and harmony in addition to his already established mastery over magic and knowledge during the Middle Kingdom (2055 – 1650 BCE).
During the New Kingdom (1550 – 2070 BCE), Thoth was credited with the creation of the lunar calendar. The lunar calendar was used in ancient Egypt to manage agricultural cycles and measure the passage of time. Additionally, the phases of the moon were believed to have an influence over magical ceremonies.
Thoth, being a deity already associated with magic and now cosmic order, seamlessly transitioned into the position of a lunar god. To accentuate Thoth’s lunar aspect, iconographies of him would eventually be accompanied by a lunar disc and crescent, whether in the theriomorphic form of a baboon, an ibis, or an ibis-headed man.
Key Takeaways
- Thoth became a lunar god in the Middle Kingdom, tasked with maintaining cosmic order.
- Thoth was credited with lunar calendar creation.
- Moon iconography accentuates Thoth’s lunar aspect.
6. Hermes Trismegistus: The Hellenistic Fusion of Thoth and Hermes
After the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE, the Greeks not only gained interest in Egypt but also immigrated to Egypt. Eventually, the Greeks assimilated numerous Egyptian deities into their pantheon. Of the many assimilated deities, Thoth was one of the most important.
As patrons of scribes, languages, and messengers in their respective pantheons, the Greeks pondered whether Hermes and Thoth truly roamed the world and shared divine knowledge with humanity. Even more so, the Hellenistic Greeks and Romans wondered if Thoth and the Greek god Hermes were one and the same. Through all the speculation and popularity of the new postulated connection between Hermes and Thoth, the well-known Hermes Trismegistus was born.
Eventually, authors of the ancient world would attribute a collection of ancient texts to Hermes Trismegistus himself, the Corpus Hermeticum, and other Hermetic texts. Although the texts spanned centuries, the Hermetic religion was popular and even challenged the rise of Christianity. Hermeticism still exists today and has directly influenced the doctrine of organizations such as the Golden Dawn, Freemasonry, and Rosicrucianism.
Key Takeaways
- The Hellenistic pantheon assimilated several Egyptian deities.
- Thoth was fused with the ancient Greek god Hermes, as their domains overlapped.
- After the fusion with Thoth, Hermes became Hermes Trismegistus (“the three times great.”)
