 Thoth as Moon
God:
He was originally the
deification of The Moon in the Ogdoad belief system. Initially,
in that system, The Moon had been seen to be the eye of Horus,
the sky god, which had been semi-blinded (thus darker) in a
fight against Set. The other eye was The Sun.
However, over time, it became separate, becoming a lunar
deity in its own right. It was said to be another son of
Ra.
As the crescent moon strongly
resembles the curved beak of the Ibis, this separate deity was
named Djehuty (i.e. Thoth), meaning Ibis. Thoth also
became associated with The Moon, due to the Ancient
Egyptians observing that baboons (sacred to Thoth) 'sang'
to the moon at night and would greet the sun with chattering
noises each morning just as Thoth, The Moon god, would greet
Ra, The Sun god, as he rose.
- The Moon provided
light at night which allowed time to still be
measured without The Sun.
- Its phases and prominence
gave it a significant importance in early astrology/astronomy.
- The cycles of The Moon
also organized much of Egyptian society's civil, and
religious, rituals, and events.
Consequently, Thoth gradually
became seen as a god of wisdom, magic, and the measurement, and
regulation, of events, and of time. He was thus said to be the
secretary and counselor of Ra, and with Ma'at (truth/order)
stood next to Ra, The Sun god, on the nightly voyage
across the sky.
Magical
Thoth:
- Thoth was the god who,
with his skill at games, overcame the curse of Ra, allowing
the goddess Nut to give birth to her five
children.
- It was he who helped Isis
work the ritual to bring Osiris back from the
dead.
- Thoth drove the magical
poison of Set from Horus with the power of his
magic.
- He was Horus' supporter
during the young god's deadly battle with his uncle Set,
helping Horus with his wisdom and magic.
The magical powers of Thoth
were so great, that the Egyptians had tales of a 'Book of
Thoth', which would allow a person who read the sacred book to
become the most powerful magician in the world.
However, the book which "the god of wisdom wrote with his
own hand" was a deadly book that brought nothing but pain and
tragedy to those that read it, despite finding out about the
"secrets of the gods themselves" and "all that is hidden in the
stars."
According to legend, Thoth gave his successors the "Book of
Thoth" or the "Key to Immortality," which contained the secret
processes for the regeneration of humanity and the expansion of
consciousness that would enable mankind to behold the gods.
There are stories, or theories, concerning the "Book of
Thoth." Some say initially it was kept in a temple, in a sealed
golden box, and used in the Ancient Mysteries. When the
practice of these Mysteries declined, it was then carried to an
unknown land, where it still exists, safely preserved and still
leads disciples to the presence of the Immortals. Others hold
that the "Book of Thoth" is actually the Tarot deck.
Thoth
Wisdom:
Thoth was credited by the ancient Egyptians as the inventor
of writing, and was also considered to have been The god of
Scribe. As his association with The Moon waned, he developed
into a god of wisdom, magic and Measurements. Also, he was
considered to measure and record time. For this reason Thoth
was universally worshipped by ancient Egyptian Scribes. Many
scribes had a painting or a picture of Thoth in their "office."
Likewise, one of the symbols for scribes was that of the
Ibis.
Thoth was inserted in many tales as the wise counsel and
persuader. His association with learning, and measurement, led
him to be connected with Seshat, the earlier deification of
wisdom, who was said to be his daughter, or variably his
wife.
Thoth
the Writer:
 It was said that he was the author of the
spells in the "Book of the Dead" and "Book of Breathings"
(also attributed to Isis) and he was given the grand
title, the "Author of Every Work on Every Branch of
Knowledge, Both Human and Divine".
Egyptian mythology speaks of the "Book of Thoth" in which
the god inscribed all of the secrets of the universe. Anyone
who read it would become the most powerful sorcerer in the
world, but would be cursed by their knowledge. Despite the
warning, many have been searching for this text. Some theories
speculate that it is hidden in a secret chamber in or near the
Great Pyramid.
This book is said by some to be the "Emerald Tablets of
Thoth" a work of dubious authenticity which suggests that Thoth
and the other gods were from Atlantis.
As "Scribe of the Company of
the Gods," Thoth kept a great library of scrolls,
over which one of his wives, Seshat, The goddess of Writing,
was thought to be mistress. The god born of this union was
called Hornub. He was associated, by the Egyptians, with
speech, literature, arts, learning. He, too, was a measurer and
recorder of time, as was Seshat.
Thoth's
Center of Worship:
Thoth's center of worship was at Khmunu, (a.k.a.
Hermopolis) in Upper Egypt. During the Late period Thoth
gained more prominence when it became the capital city. Here,
he was worshipped as part of the Ogdoad and his cult considered
him the creator god who, in Ibis form, laid the World Egg.
His word was believed to have created the eight deities of
the Ogdoad. (The gods Nun, Heh, Kuk and Amun and the goddesses
Nunet, Hauhet, Kuaket and Amaunet. Sometimes portrayed as four
frog gods and four snake goddesses).
Here he was wed to a goddess of protection called Nehmauit
(Nahmauit, Nehmetaway), 'She Who Uproots Evil', with whom he
fathered the god Neferhor.
In recent times, archaeologists have found thousands of
mummified Ibis who were buried to honor the name of Thoth.
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