Thoth

Thoth

Thoth

Thoth was the Egyptian god of wisdom and knowledge. Honored as the inventor of writing and the founder of branches of learning such as art, astronomy, medicine, law, and magic, he was the patron god of scribes. Ancient Egyptians associated Thoth with the moon and identified him as the sonor heart and tongueof Ra, the supreme sun god.

According to legend, Thoth possessed books of wisdom that contained secret information about nature and magic. Although the books were hidden, certain scribes had access to them.

patron special guardian, protector, or supporter

scribe secretary or writer

underworld land of the dead

Thoth played a key role in the Egyptian story of the afterlife. Known to be fair and impartial, Thoth judged the souls of the dead by weighing their hearts against a feather that represented truth. After recording the results, he told Osiris, ruler of the underworld, whether the individual had led a just life. In works of art, Thoth appears as either a human with the head of an ibisa bird with a long, curved billor a baboon that supports the moon on its head.

See also Afterlife; Egyptian Mythology; Moon; Osiris; Ra (Re); Underworld.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Thoth." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Thoth." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900475.html

"Thoth." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900475.html

Learn more about citation styles

Thoth

Thoth , in Egyptian religion, god of wisdom and magic. A patron of learning and of the arts, he was credited with many inventions, including writing, geometry, and astronomy. Perhaps originally a moon god, Thoth was also a messenger and scribe for the gods. He was identified by the Greeks with Hermes and as such was specifically named Hermes Trismegistus (see Hermetic books ). He was variously represented as an ibis, as an ibis-headed man, or as a baboon.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Thoth." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Thoth." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Thoth.html

"Thoth." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Thoth.html

Learn more about citation styles

Thoth

Thoth In Egyptian mythology, the scribe of the gods. He appears as the record-keeper of the dead, patron of the arts and learning, inventor of writing, and as creator of the universe. Thoth is depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or of an ape, bearing pen and ink, or the lunar disc and crescent.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Thoth." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Thoth." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Thoth.html

"Thoth." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Thoth.html

Learn more about citation styles

Thoth

Thoth in Egyptian mythology, a moon god, the god of wisdom, justice, and writing, patron of the sciences, and messenger of Ra, identified by the Greeks with Hermes. He is most often represented in human form with the head of an ibis surmounted by the moon's disc and crescent.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Thoth." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Thoth." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Thoth.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Thoth." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Thoth.html

Learn more about citation styles

Thoth

Thothboth, growth, loath, oath, quoth, sloth, Thoth, troth •outgrowth • upgrowth •undergrowth

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Thoth." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Thoth." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Thoth.html

"Thoth." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Thoth.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

The Book of THoTH to release book with Reality Press.(The Book of THoTH:...
Newspaper article from: M2 Best Books; 8/11/2006
Llewellyn.(The Thoth Companion; Tarot: Theory and Practice)(Brief...
Magazine article from: The Bookwatch; 1/1/2008
Llewellyn.(The Thoth Companion, Tarot: Theory and Practice)(Brief...
Newspaper article from: Internet Bookwatch; 12/1/2007

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of Thoth