Thoth facts for kids
In ancient Egyptian mythology, Thoth was a very important deity (god). He was known as the god of scribes, wisdom, writing, and knowledge. People often saw him pictured with the head of an ibis bird. Sometimes, he was also shown as a baboon.
Thoth was believed to be the heart and tongue of Ra, the sun god. This meant he was the one who helped Ra's thoughts become words. He was also connected to goddesses like Ma'at and Seshat. Some myths say he was born from Ra's heart, or even from the skull of Seth.
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Where Thoth Was Worshipped
Thoth's main place of worship was a city called Khemennu. The ancient Greeks later renamed this city Hermopolis, which means "City of Hermes," because they linked Thoth with their own god Hermes. Thoth was the main god in this city. He also had many other shrines and temples in different parts of Egypt, like Abydos.
How People Worshipped Thoth
People prayed to Thoth a lot, especially in the early days of ancient Egypt. They would sing special songs and say spells to him. There were even big celebrations and feasts held in his honor throughout the year, like "The Feast of Thoth." He was a very important god for the people of the early Egyptian dynasties.
Thoth's Role in Myths
Thoth played many big roles in Egyptian myths.
- He was said to have brought Osiris back to life after Osiris was killed by Seth. He also later helped bring Osiris's son, Horus, back to life.
- One famous myth tells how Thoth helped create the 365-day year. Originally, the year had only 360 days. The sun god Ra had forbidden the goddess Nut from having children on any day of the year. Thoth then played a game with the moon god, Khonsu, and won five extra days. These five "extra" days became the only days when Nut could have her children.
- Sometimes, Thoth was even seen as the creator of the world and all other gods, taking the place of the Primeval Goose.
Thoth's Family and Connections
Thoth had close connections to other gods.
- Some myths say he was the son of Ra.
- His female partner was often the goddess Seshat. She was also a goddess of writing and knowledge. Some stories say Seshat invented hieroglyphs, and Thoth then taught them to people. She was sometimes called Thoth's wife or his daughter.
Thoth and Ma'at
The goddess Ma'at was also very important to Thoth. Ma'at was the goddess of truth, justice, law, and order.
- Thoth was often present during the "weighing of the heart" ceremony in the afterlife. In this ceremony, a person's heart was weighed against Ma'at's feather to see if they had lived a good life. Thoth would be there, writing down the results, while Ma'at made sure everything was fair.
- They both stood on either side of Ra's boat as it traveled across the sky. Some myths even say Thoth was Ma'at's husband.
What Thoth Looked Like
Thoth had a very unique appearance. He was usually shown in two main forms:
- A human body with the head of an ibis bird.
- A squatting baboon with a dog-like head.
In his hands, he often held a stylus (a writing tool) and a palette (for ink). Sometimes, he also held the Ankh, which was the ancient Egyptian symbol for life.
Thoth's Many Titles and Jobs
Thoth had many different titles and important jobs. He was often called "Three times Great, Great" or "Thrice Great." This shows how powerful and respected he was. His roles included:
- A mediator, helping to settle arguments between gods.
- A messenger, carrying important messages.
- A scribe, writing down important events and laws.
- A teacher, sharing knowledge and wisdom.
Some of his specific titles 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'
These many titles show that Thoth was extremely important in ancient Egyptian beliefs. He was most worshipped during the Old Kingdom period of Egypt.
Thoth and the Greeks
When the ancient Greeks took control of Egypt, they saw similarities between Thoth and their own messenger god, Hermes. Because of this, they renamed Thoth's main city, Khemennu, to Hermopolis, meaning "City of Hermes." Today, the ruins of ancient temples dedicated to Thoth can still be found in what is now called el-Eshmunein.
Images for kids
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Thoout, Thoth Deux fois Grand, le Second Hermés, N372.2A, Brooklyn Museum
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Stela showing a male adorer standing before 2 Ibises of Thoth. Limestone, sunken relief. Early 19th Dynasty. From Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
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Lee Lawrie, Thoth (1939). Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C.
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Thoth, sitting on his throne
See also
In Spanish: Thot (dios egipcio) para niños
