029 Baboon God Thoth

Museum Description: Glazed Stone Baboon of the Egyptian God Thoth

Room: 13/Case: None/Number: GR 1888.6-1.78

Scripture: Exodus 9:23

Thoth was a prominent Egyptian god often presented by either a baboon or with the head of an ibis bird.  He was thought to have many powers, so would have been exposed as particularly powerless during the ten plagues of Egypt.  As the so-called 'lord of magic', he could not help the Egyptian magicians replicate the third plague when Jehovah turned the dust turned to gnats.  He could not prevent the fourth plague of gadflies, which affected all of Egypt except the land where the Israelites were living.  As a healer god, he did not stop the sixth plague of boils.  Finally, he was said to be a god of rain and thunder, meaning the seventh plague of thunder and hail was particularly humiliating!