Thoth

Ibis-headed god of writing, wisdom, magic and the moon.

Domains

• writing
• wisdom
• moon

Powers

• Inventing writing and recording all knowledge
• Recording the verdict at the weighing of the heart
• Working magic through powerful spoken formulae

Epithets

• nb mdw-nṯr egyptian · neb medu-netjer · cultLord of the divine words (hieroglyphs); inventor of writingBook of the Dead; cf. Plat. Phaedr. 274c-275b (Theuth) (primary)
• nb ḫmnw egyptian · neb Khemenu · cultLord of Hermopolis (the City of Eight); Thoth of his cult-centreHermopolis temple texts; Coffin Texts (primary)
• wpj-mꜣꜥt egyptian · wep-maat · cultJudge/reckoner of truth; the scribe who records the weighing of the heartBook of the Dead spell 125 (the Judgment scene) (primary)

Relations

• interpretatio: HermesReciprocal of greek_hesiod_hermes.interpretatio — Standard equation, later flowering as Hermes Trismegistus. Preserves the inventor-of-writing, messenger-mediator role; breaks on Thoth's lunar reckoning and judgment-hall gravity vs Hermes' trickery.Cicero, De natura deorum 3.56 (primary); Plato, Phaedrus 274c-d (Theuth as inventor of letters) (primary)

Sources

• existence: Pyramid Texts, Utterance 359 (primary)