Thoth, the Egyptian God of Wisdom

ancient Egypt · gods and goddesses · wisdom · writing

God of the Moon. Thoth was believed to control the Moon and its cycles in the night sky. Ancient Egyptians thought he measured time and kept track of all the days and seasons.

Ibis and baboon forms. Artists painted Thoth as a man with the head of an ibis (a long-beaked wading bird) or sometimes as a baboon. Both animals were sacred to him and represented his connection to wisdom and knowledge.

Invented writing. Thoth was credited with creating hieroglyphics, the picture-symbols that ancient Egyptians used to write. He was the master of all words, knowledge, science, and magic.

Judge of souls. Egyptians believed Thoth helped judge whether people had lived good lives after they died. He worked alongside Ma'at, the goddess of truth and fairness, to keep balance in the universe.

Paired with powerful goddesses. Thoth's wife was Ma'at, goddess of truth, and his feminine counterpart was Seshat, goddess of writing and measurement. These powerful goddesses shared his role in keeping order and recording important knowledge.