Pantheistic Statuette of Thoth, the moon god, as a sacred baboon (faience), Late Ptolemaic - Early Roman Period, ca. 50 BC - 100 AD. Now in the University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK. UEA 545
Statuette of a baboon, one of the animal manifestations of Thoth, god of writing, magic, wisdom, and the moon. Ptolemaic Period, ca. 3rd to 2nd century BC. Photo: David A. Loggie, N.Y. Now in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.
The connections between Horus and Djehuty can be traced on three levels:
1. Mythological level: here we have as a main source the contendings of Seth and Horus. Djehuty is mediator, restorer of balance between Seth and Horus, while they contend on the succession of Osiris as King (Re is unwilling to allow Horus to succeed on His fathers throne, so Djehuty speaks for Horus). Djehuty also restores Horus’s eye after Seth damages it. So he also is Horus’s healer.
2. Functional level (sources here are Utterances from the BOTD and the PT): Horus and Djehuty are paired up. They open gates and bestow mobility on the deceased in the Duat. The gates there are a form of the dangerous goddess (in her meaning as archetype of ferocity). They have to be appeased so they can be passed. Djehuty is master in this (see the myth of returning the dangerous/distant goddess). Horus though is the son by descendancy of Osiris. Osiris cannot deny him passage through the Duat. Hence the gates are no hindrance for Him.
Horus is the son of Osiris by descendancy while Djehuty is also son of Osiris by functionality, by His tasks (here notice the way Djehuty acts in the contendings - a brother could not have interceded better for Horus). They are partly interchangeable depending on the task at hand. On the other hand They complement each other.
In the Pyramid texts Horus and Djehuty are working together often as helpers of the deceased king. They help him to cross water, for example (again we have the characteristic of granting mobility to the deceased).
Both also work together to set Osiris upright to appear in the court of the Ennead.
The last connection I traced is Djehuty and Horus being kingly Gods. Both are essential for the coronation of a new king. (I am not going to talk about Seths role/connection/development atm. This is for later).
3. Iconographic level: First of all it is interesting to note, that the ibis-nome (15th nome of lower Egypt, Hermopolis parva) and the falcon-nome (14th nome of lower Egypt, Tanis) are neighbors.
Falcon and Ibis have been present side by side as part of the standards of Kingship throughout time (later 2 jackals were added to them). There is a discussion on a few depictions, in which the ibis seems to have been substituted by a falcon. This is a discussion though, which concerns the possible shape of manifestations of Djehuty handed down by the ancient Egyptians.
Source: Stadler, Weiser und Wesir. Contendings (Translated text) A lot of reading, which I cannot trace back to the books anymore without spending a disproportional amout of time, which I don’t have at my hands at the moment, which helped me get the gist of Stadlers analysis on the BOTD.
As with all my other blog entries - should I get hold of more information I will add it by reblogging this entry. The content of this entry is theoretic by nature. There are other opinions on aspects of these connections. You are welcome to add to this :)
This object was discovered during the excavations directed by J. D. S. Pendlebury for the EES in 1932. The statuette is on a limestone base.
Here Thoth, the deity of wisdom and knowledge, is shown in his alternative manifestation as a baboon, with a lunar disc and crescent atop his head. In his lunar form, Thoth was associated with dates, time, accounting and astronomy – all subjects that needed careful scribal recording. “In front of him squats cross-legged a scribe intent upon his papyrus roll, as if inspired by his patron god.” Thus, this statuette reinforces the importance of Thoth to scribes and scholars. Its design suggests not only the superior status of the god – evident from Thoth’s elevated position, and the bowed head of the scribe – but also a close personal relationship between man and god, with the scribe listening attentively and taking dictation from the god.
Everyone at Amarna during Akhenaten’s reign was expected to worship the Aten as a sign of loyalty to the king. However, not all paid heed to this, which is demonstrated by the existence of statuettes like this. This is significant as it highlights that people did not suppress the symbols of the old gods, although it was disapproved of by Akhenaten.
It was found at location O47.16a, in the “Waddington Workshop”, named after its excavators – a large-scale workshop producing items for royal and priestly patrons.
Thoth, often called the “heart of Re,” is closely associated with the heart. (also D. Klotz, Adoration of the Ram, p. 27-28, n. C; and note that Thoth is also called “lord of the heart (pȝ nb n pȝ ḥȝt)” in O. Hor. 26 (J.D. Ray, The Archive of Hor, 1976, p. 161))
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IFAO 109 (2009), Klotz David, The Statue of the dioikêtês Harchebi/Archibios. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 47-12,
This is very big book, more than 400 pages. Thanks to all people who sent their wonderful contributions to make the book possible! Thanks to wonderful editor/s of Neos Alexanrdia/Bibliotheca Alexandrina, who made this project possible! This was very big devotional project in honor of Djehuty and Set.
This book includes lots of poetry, essays, rituals and modern mythology/fiction. There are also very valuable gems such as “Great hymn of Horemheb” (for Djehuty) translated and transliterated (in ancient-egyptian) by rev.Tamara L.Siuda, and great ritual in honor of Djehuty by R.Reidy (reprinted with permission from “Eternat Egypt” book).
I believe this book will be valuable for all kemetics & all the people who give honor to Thoth and Seth and love these wonderful Gods.
Tatiana // Djed-Djehuty-iwf-ankh't, Hm(t)-Ntr of Thoth-Hermes-Djehuty, Thrice Greatest, Lord of Khemenu, Great One of the Five, Lord of All Knowledge, Silver Sun of the Night, Divine Avenger and Benevolent Lord of Terror // Hm(t)-Ntr of the Great Eight of Hermopolis // Devotee of Lord Skanda/Kartikeya/Murugan
