thoth

Thoth

Thoth (DHwtj) - ideogram, G26 (ibis on standard)

Ibis:  Ibis aethiopica / Ibis religiosa

ibis, wood and bronze statue - Late Period

"I went to that part of Arabia fairly near the city of Buto to find out about winged snakes.  When I got there, I saw countless snake bones and spines; there were heaps and heaps of spines there - large, medium-sized, and smaller ones.  The place where all these backbones are scattered about on the ground is a narrow pass linking hills to a great plain, which joins the Egyptian plain.  The story goes that at the beginning of spring these winged snakes fly from Arabia towards Egypt, but birds - ibises - meet them there at the pass and do not allow them past, but kill them.  It is because the ibis does this that the Egyptians value the bird so highly, according to the Arabians, and the Egyptians agree that this is why they value these birds.  Here is a description of the ibis.  It is pitch-black all over, and it has the legs of a crane and a very hooked beak.  It is about the size of a corncrake.  That is what the black ibises are like, which are the ones that fight the snakes, but there are two kinds of ibis and the other kind, which one is more likely to come across in places inhabited by human beings, is different.  It has no feathers anywhere on its head and neck, and its plumage is completely white, except for its head, neck, the tips of its wings, and the very end of its tail, all of which are pitch-black.  Its legs and beak are like those of the other kind."  (Herodotus 'The Histories' Book 2, 75, 76; translation, R. Waterfield 1998)

"And of the sacred birds the ibis is useful as a protector against the snakes, the locusts, and the caterpillars...."  (Diodorus Siculus 'Library of History' 1.87.6)  link

"The Egyptians also invoke their ibis against the incursions of serpents; and the people of Elis, their god Myiagros ('hunter of flies'), when the vast multitudes of flies are bringing pestilence among them; the flies die immediately the propitiatory sacrifice has been made to this god."  (Pliny the Elder 'The Natural History' Book 10, Chap. 40 (28) - The Ibis)  link

"The ibis, which kills the deadly creeping things, was the first to teach men the use of medicinal purgations when they observed her employing clysters and being purged by herself.  The most strict of the priests take their lustral water for purification from a place where the ibis has drunk:  for she does not drink water if it is unwholesome or tainted, nor will she approach it.  By spreading her feet, in their relation to each other and to her bill, she makes an equilateral triangle.  Moreover the variety and combination of her black feathers with her white picture the moon in its first quarter.  There is no occasion for surprise that the Egyptians were so taken with such slight resemblances; for the Greeks in their painted and sculptured portrayals of the gods made use of many such."  (Plutarch 'Moralia - Isis and Osiris' 381D)  link

"The ibis is related to Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom.  According to the Greek scholar Aelian, in his De Natura Animalium, this bird was chosen because it tucks its head under its wing when it sleeps, so that it comes to resemble the shape of the heart; and also because of the fact that the stride of the ibis measures exactly a cubit (which was the measure used in the building of temples), and because it destroyed harmful insects.  There were two kinds of ibis:  the white bird (associated with the moon) and the black.  The belief was that Thoth hovered over the Egyptian people in the form of a Ibis religiosa, and that he taught them the occult arts and sciences."  ('A Dictionary of Symbols' J.E Cirlot 2002 (1983): 155)

"The Ibis reveals Thoth's creative powers.  The step of the bird is said to measure one cubit (Aelian, Nat. anim. 10.29) and the spreading of the legs formed an equilateral triangle. (Plutarch, de Isid. et Osirid. 381D, Quaest. coniv. 670C; compare the white triangle on Apis's brow).  The cubit was sacred to Thoth and by means of it the god measured the cosmos and its counterpart Egypt, thus establishing the cosmic order (Eg Maat)."  ('Dictionary of deities and demons in the Bible' K. van der Toorn, B. Becking, P.W. van der Horst 1995: 444)

Latin translation of Aelian, De Natura Animalium 10.29  link

"Cruribus ad cubiti spatium distentis eam incedere ajunt:  et Mercurio sermonis pareni idcirco in amore esse, quod orationis speciem similtudinemque gerat:  ......."

Early Dynastic Period:

"Early Dynastic slate palettes show ibises on standards, an image clearly associated with Thoth by the Old Kingdom" ('The Ancient Gods Speak' / 'Thoth' Doxey 2002: 353)

Dynasty 4:

'House of Thoth'; a funerary domain named after Thoth; Thoth associated with the king, and a 'Festival of Thoth':

Nefermaat - a son of Huni or Sneferu and 'Overseer of all the king's works' (imi-rA kA.t nb.t (nt) niswt)  (Harpur 2001: 27) (early Dyn 4, Maidum), was 'Greatest of the Five in the House of Thoth' (wr 5 pr DHwti)  (Harpur 2001: 58; fig. 71 and 69; fig. 78):

“A title of some importance to the study of the vizierate is wr 5 DHty. This title probably represents the chief priesthood of the cult of Thoth, but is important here as it is found regularly in the titularies of viziers in the forth and early fifth dynasties. It reappears in the sixth dynasty, and the form wr 5 is also found (sometimes with non-viziers) in the second half of that dynasty.” ('The Administration of Egypt in the Old Kingdom' Strudwick 1985: 316)

An estate of Nefermaat:  'That which is born of Thoth' (?) (Harpur 2001: 68;  fig. 77):

Hemiunu - a son of Nefermaat and 'Overseer of all the works of the king', was also  'Greatest of the Five in the House of Thoth' (in Iunu).

A depiction in the Wadi Maghara, of Thoth as an ibis headed deity holding a was / djed sceptre and an ankh, appears next to Khufu 'smiting the Pillar-people'.  (an inscription from the Dynasty 5 cult complex of Sahure states that the king is Thoth, the lord of the Pillar-people)

(Lepsius)

Horbaef, a son of Khufu, possessed an estate of Khufu, was connected with the service of Khufu's pyramid and bore the title, 'Greatest of the Five of the House of Thoth'.  (in Dyn 4, the holder of this title was also vizier)  ('A History of the Giza Necropolis' Vol. 2, Reisner 1955: 10)

A festival of Thoth is mentioned in an inscription on the east side of the sarcophagus of Minkhaf, a son of Khufu - from tomb G 7430 + 7440 in the Eastern Cemetery at Giza.  Minkhaf was 'overseer of all the works of the king', 'scribe of the divine book', and 'keeper of secrets of his father'.  (Strudwick 2005: 428 - 430)

An inscription on a limestone slab from the tomb of Kaitep (Giza, Dyn 4), has a list of festivals on the days which offerings were to be made to Kaitep, and includes the festival of Thoth.  (James 1961: 5; Pl. V, No. 1173)

A Festival of Thoth is mentioned in an inscription from the tomb of aankh-Haf (Dyn 4, Giza).  ((James 1961: 15; Pl. XV, No. 527A)

Dynasty 5:

'priestess of Thoth', 'beloved of Thoth', and a 'Festival of Thoth:

Mersyankh III, daughter of Kawab (a son of Khufu) and Hetepheres II - early Dyn 5, G 7530 - 7540, was a 'priestess of Thoth' - Hmt-nTr DHwti (GM 1 1974: 14; fig. 12):

and "beloved of Thoth and Horus"  - mr [yt] DHwty Hrw (GM 1 1974: 8; fig. 2):

From the tomb of Neferbauptah, priest of Khufu and Neferirkare - Dyn 5, G 6010 - a 'Festival of Thoth' (DHwtt)  (GM 5 1994: 25;  fig. 12):

Inscription from the royal cult complex of Sahure:  "....the lord of the two lands, Sahure, given all life and dominion;  (he is) Thoth, the lord of the Pillar people (DHwti nb iwntiw), (he is) Sopdet, lord of the foreign lands (spd nb xAswt), who treads on the rebels."  (Strudwick 2005:  84-5):

Inscription of Sahure in Wadi Kharig:  "The king of Upper and Lower Egypt Sahure, may he live for ever.  Thoth, the lord of terror, the subduer of Asia."  (Strudwick 2005: 136)

Inscription of Niuserre in Wadi Maghara:  "Thoth, lord of the foreign lands, who has made pure libations."   (Strudwick 2005: 136)

An inscription on the false door of an Inspector of the Priests of Menkaura, Khenu (xnw) (Giza, Dyn 4), also mentions a 'Festival of Thoth'.

Middle Kingdom: 1 Akhet (1st day of Inundation month): txj 'He of the Plumb-bob' (an epithet of Thoth)

New Kingdom: 1 Akhet: DHwtj 'Thoth'

Pyramid Texts

G26 (ibis on standard) Sethe Vol 1: 9;  §16b:

Osiris, acquire for yourself all those who hate Unis and anyone who speaks bad of his name.  Thoth, go, acquire him for Osiris:  get the one who speaks bad of Unis's name; put him in your hand.  W 19

Thoth has gone with his ka  W 20, 137a

your natron is Thoth's natron W 23, 24

Thoth, get him with it.  He has come forth to him with Horus's eye.  W 55 (Allen: The first sentence instructs Thoth to fetch the bearer of the offering table; the second refers to the bearer who has brought it)

Awake, Parter!  Go on high, Thoth!  Awake sleepers!  Rouse, you in Kenzet! - before the Great Heron that comes from the garden..... like Seth rejects the two mtrH that cross the sky.  Sun and Thoth, take Unis with you....that he might sail in what you sail in.......Unis will circumnavigate the sky like the Sun, Unis will course the sky like Thoth.  W 143  (PT 210)  (mtrH - an unknown wooden object)

Thoth, go, announce to the gods of the West as well as their akhs:  "This Unis has come, an imperishable akh..... W 150

It is what Seth and Thoth have done, your brothers who do not weep for you.  W 151

Thoth, this Osiris here is your brother, who was made to revive and live that he might catch you W 152

Do not be ignorant of Unis, Thoth, since you know him and he knows you.  Do not be ignorant of Unis, Thoth, who calls you He who Sets Alone.  W 172, T 186

So, should you ( the sky's ferryman) not transport Unis, he will jump up and put himself on a wing of Thoth, and he is the one who will transport Unis to yonder side.  W 177

Unis is a trampler, who chops the canal's mud.  Thoth, behind Unis!  Trample the one of the dark.... W 185

Greetings, Anubis's daughter at the sky's Looking (Waters), you whom Thoth endowed, at the ladder's uprights!  Open Unis's path, that Unis may pass.  W 208  (Allen:  in a MK copy this spell and the next are entitled 'Spell of tying a ladder in the necropolis')

Thoth is scrubbing your feet, Teti.  T 8

Thoth's fetcher desires Teti  T 12

Ho, Osiris Teti!  Horus has come seeking you.  He has made Thoth drive back Seth's followers for you, he has gotten them corraled for you, and has turned away the desire of Seth.  T 145

Thoth has seized your opponent for you, beheaded along with his retinue, and there was none of them whom he spared.  T 199a

Horus wailed for his eye, Seth for his testicles.  Horus's eye jumped and he made landfall on the other side of the Winding Canal so that it might save itself from Seth, having seen Thoth on the other side of the Winding Canal.  Horus's eye jumped up on the other side of the Winding Canal and he made landfall on Thoth's wing on the other side of the Winding Canal.  You gods who cross on Thoth's wing to the other side of the Winding Canal, to the eastern side of the sky, in order to contend against Seth over that eye of Horus, Teti will cross with you on Thoth's wing to the other side of the Winding Canal, to the eastern side of the sky, for Teti will be contending against Seth over that eye of Horus.  T 181

Ho, Osiris Teti!  Awake!  Horus has had Thoth get your opponent for you, and he has put you on his back so that he will not thwart you.  Make your seat on him!  Come forth and sit on him; don't let him be taken away from you.  T 203

Thoth [cannot] disturb [what he has done for you.  So, sit on your metal chair, summon those of the night, and direct the Imperishable] Stars.  T 206

Greetings, Sun.........Let Teti see you when you emerge as Thoth (the moon), when a beaching-place is made for the Sun's boat at its marshes in the bald sky, when you close up as the one at the fore of his Infinites.  T 283

The earth speaks:  The horizon's door has been opened to you, Geb's door has been pulled open to you.  You shall emerge at Anubis's voice, and he will akhify you as Thoth, that you may part the gods and set the borders of the (sky's) arcs between the two Controlling Powers, by virtue of this akhification that Anubis has commanded.  P 31

Recitation:  Thoth, gather Pepi, that he might live and what is against him might end.  Thoth, place Horus's eye for him.  P 42

Recitation:  Thoth, put [ ... ].  Elevate yourself to him and brighten [his face].  P 214

Lighting the brazier.  Recitation:  I am Thoth.  [ ... ] what you have [eaten], so that your belly grows round from [it].  P 219

You shall stand at the great causeway (with) your baton and your rope, your fingernails on your fingers the points on the shoulders of Thoth, the knife-bearer who came from Seth.  P 312

Ho, Pepi!  I am Thoth.  A king-given offering:  your bread, your beer, and these your two loaves of bread that have come from Horus in the broadhall have been given to you.  He will content your heart with them, Pepi, for eternity.  P 319a

The sky has become disheveled, the earth has trembled.  Horus has come, Thoth has appeared, that they might raise Osiris from off his side and make him stand up in the Dual Ennead.  P 327

Thoth's blade has been sharpened and the knife that removes heads and cuts out hearts has been honed, and [it] will remove the heads and cut out the hearts of those who will cross this Pepi when he goes to you, Osiris, and those who will bar this Pepi when he goes to you, Osiris.  P 327

Thoth is Pepi's brother....  P 342

Thoth's speech has been put [ ... ].  P 345

Recitation:  Ho, Osiris [Pepi!  You have become clean in the cleaning that Horus made for his eye].  You are Thoth, who saved it; you are not Seth, who took it.......the tips of [your wings those of] Thoth.  P 353

Thoth is my aegis.... P 410

You shall clean this Pepi for Thoth and .....  P 432

Lake-strider (a cow goddess) is making his perfect paths and leading him to the great seat that made the gods, that made Horus and begat Thoth, so that Isis may receive him and Nephthys might beget him.  So he will sit on the great seat that made the gods.....  P 450

This is how Pepi has come from Pe, where the bas of Pe are:  Meryre having been banded with the breastband of Horus, Meryre having been clothed in the clothing of Thoth, Isis before him, Nephthys behind him, Paths-Parter parting a path for him, Shu lifting him, the bas of Iunu laying down a stairway for him to join with the above, and Nut giving her arms toward him like that which she did for Osiris on the day he moored.  P 459

Horus's sounding-poles, Thoth's wings, ferry this Pepi; don't maroon him.  P 463

Pepi is Thoth, who tended you, (eye); Pepi is not Seth, who took it.....this Pepi's wingtips are those of Thoth.....Pepi is Thoth, the gods' forceful one.  P 472

The back of this Pepi, is the back of Thoth.  P 474

You two kites (Isis and Nephthys) atop Thoth's wing, you two on the top of Wanderer's head (epithet of the sun), fetch that (ferryboat) for this Pepi, put him on yonder side.  P 479

Be far overhead!  Let Eyes-Forward respect me and Thoth protect me.  P 483

Should Thoth try to come in that bad coming of his, don't open your arms to him, but let there be said to him his identity of You Have No Mother, (and say):  "Go, you who have been barred from your testicles!  Go to Pe, to Thoth town!"  P 483

The nose of this Pepi is that of Thoth, as he emerges and ascends to the sky.  P 486

Thoth, have no mercy on all who hate my father.  Thoth, go and see him who would get my father when he journeys, the one who is dangerous for him.  P 489

Go to Osiris, (Thoth):  he is Meryre.  Osiris Pepi, I have gotten for you the one who killed you, (says Thoth):  don't let him escape from you.  P 490

Recitation:  Let this Pepi proceed with you, Horus.  Ferry him, Thoth, on your wingtip as Sokar at the fore of the Maat-boat.  Horus is not lying behind the canal, Thoth is not marooned.  Nor will this Pepi be marooned:  Pepi is the one who has Pepi's eye.  P 505

Hear, Thoth, in whom is the gods' contentment!  P 510

Osiris was put on his side by his brother Seth, but he in Nedit moved, for his head was raised by the Sun........Pepi [has emerged] from his house, banded (with breastbands) as Horus, arrayed as Thoth.  P 518

Recitation:  Osiris has appeared, the controlling power has become clean, the lord of Maat has gone on high at the first (lunar month) of the year, (which is) the year's lord.........that has come from the mouth of Thoth, for Osiris, the sealbearer of life, the gods' sealer.  P 519

[Before you is] Horus's arm, behind you is Thoth's arm, supporting you.  P 525

Tie the lashings, land his ferryboats, [for a son of Atum] who is hungry and thirsty, thirsty and hungry, on this southern side of the Winding Canal.  Thoth in the limit of your bush's shade, put Pepi on your wingtip in yonder northern side of the Winding Canal.  P 528

[You gods who put] Horus's eye atop Thoth's wing, Pepi [ ... ] him in yonder eastern side of the sky.  Ferry that (ferryboat) to him, take him [with you.  Pepi] is one of you, and he will escort the Sun, the god of those who have gone to [their] kas...... P 544

..... ribs from Thoth's butcher's block.  P 553

Father Osiris [Pepi is the great] controlling power [at your fore, akhs.  Father Osiris] Pepi [is] Thoth among the gods.  P 554

Thoth, gather him, that what is against him might end.  M 29b

Thoth has arrayed himself with his malachite sporran that strides over his land in full.  P 50

like Seth rejects his two witnesses who cross the sky:  they are the Sun and Thoth.  May you (two) take Nemtiemzaf Merenre with you..  M 230 (N 365)

Thoth, scrub Nemtiemzaf Merenre's feet!  M 344

Ho, Osiris Pepi Neferkare!  Thoth has fetched Horus for you....  N 22

Thoth has fetched Pepi Neferkare, desiring him because Pepi Neferkare has fetched his arms for him.  N 78

Thoth, set his head on him. A vase of water.  N 96

...Begetter in a rebirth in the nest [of] Thoth inside the Tamarisk Marsh, the gods' source.  N 347

Horus shall lead you, having given you the gods who are your opponents, Thoth having gotten them for you.....Shu and Tefnut, the two great gods in Iunu.  N 348

Thoth has put (p) the gods under you, ferried (dA.w) in the dDA-enclosure and guided (mAa.w) in the dmAa-enclosure.  N 359

Horus's eye has bounced atop Thoth's wing on the eastern side of the god's ladder.  N 428

Pepi Neferkare is Thoth over the sky, .... N 457

Thoth, the Night-attacker's Night-attacker, is the [Lake-striker] of Pepi Neferkare.  N 507

Thoth, lord of Magic, [has ... ] him.  N 531

Thoth has made an obstruction [ ... ].  N 570

Thoth, go acquire the opponent of this Neith [for Osiris].  Nt 58

Osiris Neith, accept the waters that are in Horus's eye:  don't you let loose of it.  Osiris Neith, accept Horus's eye, the waters in which Thoth saw.  Nt 210

Thoth, get him - the jn-implement and - the 'god's adornment' implement.  Nt 219

Horus and Thoth have become fraternal to you as the hereditary king's two brothers, and you have appeared as Dual King, for you have control of all the gods and their kas as well.  Nt 226

This Neith is Thoth:  gather yourselves, you gods in the White Palace!  Such is this Neith who is with you, Osiris!  Nt 241a

the Pale Crown that is atop your shoulders that of Thoth, the knife-bearer who emerged from Seth.  Thoth shall take away obstruction for you by means of what he will do for you.  Nt 241b

Ho, Neith!  You are Thoth in his White Palace*, in your identity that is with Osiris.  Your baton is in your hand as him of the mud, and you shall number those of the night and use your arm to (direct) the Imperishable Stars......Thoth, the knife-bearer who emerged from Seth, will come to you and find you seated on your chair of ebony as the Sun at the fore of the Ennead.  You shall govern the akhs, for their heads have been brought to you and their running legs fetched for you, and you shall live on their hearts.   Nt 250

Back, you hot night-attacker-snake!  Thoth, the night-attacker-snake's night-attacker, is the one who strikes your marshes.  Nt 271

Lake-strider is making my perfect paths and leading me to the great seat that made the gods, made Horus, and begat Thoth, so that Isis may receive me and Nephthys might beget me.  Nt 271

* White Palace / Shrine (aH-HD):

In your identity of the one in the white palace of laurelwood (pAar):..... W152 (PT 219) Sethe Vol 1: 105; §185a.........In your identity of the one in Orion (sAH), with your season at the sky and your season at the earth. W152 (PT 219) Sethe Vol 1: 106; §186a

Look, Unis has come. Look, Unis has come. Look, Unis has emerged. Unis has not come of his own accord, a dispatch having come for him. Unis has passed by his ba's house; the Great Lake's wrath has missed him. There is no one who requires his fare for the great ferry; there is no one who bars him from the White Palace of the great ones at the Beaten Path of Stars (msqt sHdw) - for look, Unis reached the sky's height.  W 172 (PT 262) Sethe Vol 1: 180; §334c

Look, Teti has emerged. Look, Teti is coming. He has not come of his own accord: your dispatches are what have fetched him; the god's word, what has elevated him. Teti has past by that ba's house, having missed the Great Lake's wrath. Teti has crossed in the great ferryboat without a fare having been taken in it; the White Palace of the great ones cannot bar him from the Beaten Path of Stars - for look, Teti has reached the sky's height and the populace have seen him.  T 186

Look, this Pepi has come. Look this Pepi has has come forth. This Pepi has run the sky's height and this Pepi cannot be barred from the Beaten Path of Stars by the great ones of the White Palace.  P 326a

......he (Nemtiemzaf Merenre) has reached the sky's height and the great ones of the White Palace cannot bar him from the Beaten Path of Stars...... M 262*

...the (god's word) is elevating Pepi [Neferkare to the path above that Ba's house.....  N 69

(Osiris) Horus has given you the gods: he has elevated them to you as reeds so that they may brighten your face in the White Palaces. N 359  (note: a play on words between 'elevate' (sja) and reed (ar), 'brighten' (sHD) and 'mace' (HD).)

Pepi Neferkare has reached the sky's height and the great ones of the White Palace cannot bar him from the Beaten Path of Stars.  N 423*

[father Pepi] Neferkare is the White Palace of the Great One at your fore, akhs.....  N 590*

This Neith is Thoth: gather yourselves, you gods in the White Palace!  Nt 241a

Ho, Neith! You are Thoth in his White Palace, in your identity that is with Osiris. Your baton is in your hand as him of the mud, and you shall number those of the night and use your arm to (direct) the Imperishable Stars.  Nt 250

Baboon (bAbj)

Unis has united the skies......Now that Unis has swept away the night and Unis has sent off the hour-stars, the controlling powers will appear and privilege Unis as Baboon. Unis is the son of her who does not know (him): she bore Unis to yellow face, lord of the night skies........Unis is Baboon, lord of the night sky, the bull of baboons, in whose absence one lives.  W 225-6

Hermopolis (wnw 'Hare-town') - south of modern el-Ashmunein, Middle Egypt; cult centre of Thoth and the Ogdoad. Temple of Thoth: lat 27.782801; lon 30.801609

Coffin Texts

The vindication of a man against his foes is brought about in the realm of the dead.  The earth was hacked up when the Rivals fought, their feet scooped out the sacred pool in Iunu.  Now comes Thoth adorned with his dignity, for Atum has ennobled him with strength, and the Two Great Ladies are pleased with him.  So the fighting is ended, the tumult stopped, the fire which went forth is quenched, the anger in the presence of the Tribunal of the God is calmed, and it sits to give judgement in the presence of Geb.  CT 7

Hail to Thoth and his Tribunal.  Hail to you, O Thoth, in whom is the peace of the gods, and all the Tribunal who are with you........for you are that star which the West bore..... CT 9

A hand is extended to you by Thoth  CT 24  The mats of Thoth are laid down in the Mansion of the Prince which is in Iunu...  CT 39

O Thoth, be friendly with the King of Upper and Lower Egypt.  May you be mighty and crush your foes, may you have peace; Osiris has given you  CT 42-43

Mine is the sounding pole(?) which went forth from the Abyss. Yesterday I divided the firmament, my soul goes to me (to) the sky, the sky, having come (from) the earth, the earth. He who is darkness(?) is he who veils my back, because I am tomorrow and the Lord of yesterday. Do I forget the outer chamber of Thoth, does he forget the wish of the dead until my soul and shade pass by it.  CT 98

.......may your mouth be split open by Thoth with this wondrous book of his wherewith he split open the mouth of the gods. He speaks and splits open the mouth of N that he may speak.  CT 231

O my heart, raise yourself on your base that you may recall what is in you; the letter goes out from the house of Re, having been sealed in the house of Thoth, and I have called to mind all the magic which is in this my belly. CT 657 V1 278

'Book of Going forth by Day,' Papyrus of Ani

.....may Thoth and Maat write to you daily......I have seen Horus as helmsman, with Thoth and Maat beside him.  Plate 1, 'Introductory Hymn to the Sun-God Re'

Thus says Thoth, judge of truth, to the Great Ennead which is in the presence of Osiris:  Hear this word of very truth.  I have judged the heart of the deceased, and his soul stands as a witness for him.  His deeds are righteous in the great balance, and no sin has been found in him.  He did not diminish the offerings in the temples, he did not destroy what had been made, he did not go about with deceitful speech while he was on earth.  Thus says the Great Ennead to Thoth who is in Hermopolis:  This utterance of yours is true......  Plate 3, Chap. 30B

Hail to you, Bull of the West - so says Thoth, the King of Eternity, of me.  I am the Great God, the protector.  I have fought for you, for I am one of those gods of the tribunal which vindicated Osiris against his foes on that day of judgement.  I belong to your company, O Osiris, for I am one of those gods who fashioned the Children of Nut, who slew the foes of Osiris and who imprisoned those who rebelled against him.  I belong to your company, O Horus, I have fought for you and have watched over your name; I am Thoth who vindicated Osiris against his foes on that day of judgement in the great Mansion of the Prince which is in Iunu.  I am a Busirite, the son of a Busirite, I was conceived in Busiris (Ddw, Djedu) when I was with the men who lamented and the women who mourned for Osiris on the Shores of the Washerman and who vindicated Osiris against his foes - so they say.  O Sun, Thoth has vindicated Osiris against his foes - so men say.  Thoth has helped me so that I might be with Horus on the day of the clothing of the Dismembered One and of the opening of the caverns for the washing of the Inert One and the throwing open of the door of the secret things in Rasetjau (r-sTAw, 'Mouth of the Ramp'); so that I might be with Horus as the protector of the left arm of Osiris who is in Khem.  I go in and out among those who are there on the day of crushing the rebels in Khem so that I may be with Horus on the day of the Festival of Osiris; offerings are made on the days of the Sixth-day Festival and the Seventh-day Festival in Iunu.......I am he who sees the mysteries in Rasetjau..... Plate 5, Chap. 1

I am that great Benu-bird in Iunu, the supervisor of what exists.  Who is he?  He is Osiris.  As for what exists, that means his injury.  Otherwise said:  That means his corpse.  Otherwise said:  It means eternity and everlasting.  As for eternity, it means daytime; as for everlasting, it means night.  Plate 7, Chap. 17

I restored the Sacred Eye after it had been injured on that day when the Rivals fought.  What does it mean?  It means the day when Horus fought with Seth when he inflicted injury on Horus's face and when Horus took away Seth's testicles.  It was Thoth who did this with his fingers.  I lifted up the hair from the Sacred Eye at its time of wrath.  What does it mean?  It means the right eye of Ra when it raged against him after he sent it out.  It was Thoth who lifted up the hair from it when he fetched it in good condition without its having suffered any harm.  Otherwise said:  It means that his Eye was sick when it wept a second time, and then Thoth spat on it.........As for the Celestial Cow, she is the Sacred Eye of Ra.  Plate 8, Chap. 17

As for him who passed on, having bathed in the Milky Way, he is Anubis who is behind the chest which contains the entrails of Osiris.  Plate 10, Chap. 17

Words spoken by the Osiris Ani, the vindicated, when arriving at the gate:  'He lifts himself up, acting in front of these three, making judgements as a companion of Thoth, and one who protects Thoth.  Plate 11, Chap. 17

O Thoth, who vindicated Osiris against his enemies, vindicate the Osiris Ani, the vindicated against his enemies in the presence of the council which is with Ra and Osiris, in Iunu, on that night of the Evening Meal, on that night of battle, at the moment of guarding the rebels, and on that day of destroying the enemies of the Lord of All.  As to 'the Great Council in Iunu':  they are Atum, Shu, and Tefnut.  As to 'the guarding of the rebels':  it means the destruction of the gang of Seth when he repeated his offences.  O Thoth, who vindicated Osiris against his enemies.... Plate 12, Chap. 18

As to 'The Great Council in Khem':  they are Horus-with-no-Eyes-in his Forehead and Thoth who is with the Council of Naref.....As to 'the Great Council which is at the judging of the dead':  they are Thoth, Osiris, Anubis, and Isdes.  Plate 14, Chap. 18

I am Orion (sAH) the Great who dwells with the bas of Iunu.  Plate 15, Chap. 23

You shall separate head from head when approaching the Milky Way.  Plate 16, Chap. 58

O Imperishable Stars, hide me among you.  Plate 16, Chap. 44

Come for my ba, O you wardens of the sky!  If you delay letting my ba see my corpse, you will find the Eye of Horus standing up thus against you......The Sacred Bark will be joyful and the Great God will proceed in peace when you allow this ba of mine to ascend to the gods, while your buttocks are in the eastern horizon of the sky, so as to follow in peace to the place where it was yesterday, to the West.  May it see my corpse, may it rest on my mummy, which will never be destroyed or perish. To be spoken over a human-headed bird of gold inlaid with semi-precious stones and laid on the breast of the deceased.  Plate 17, Chap. 89

O Thoth, the Eye of Horus is unblemished, the Eye of Horus saves me  Plate 18, Chap. 8

O you Sole One who shine in the moon, O you Sole One who glow in the sun.....  Plate 18, Chap. 2

O primaeval god, whose images have come into being.  The voice goes forth, and the earth is inundated with silence, for the Sole One came into existence in the sky before the plains and the mountains existed.  The Herdsman, the Sole Lord, who made whatever exists, he has fashioned the tongue of the Ennead.  O you who took what is in the waters, you issue thence onto the bank of the Lake of Horus.  I breathe the air which comes out of your nose, the north wind which comes forth from your mother.  You glorify my spirit, you make the Osiris my ba divine.  I worship you; be content, O Lord of the Gods, for you are exalted in your firmament, and your rays over my breast are like the day. An Address to Osiris in Various Aspects.  Hail to you, Starry One in Iunu; Sun-folk in Kheraha; Wenti more powerful than the gods; Mysterious One in Iunu.  Plate 18, 19, Chap. 15

O great god whose identity is unknown, a meal in place for the sole lord!  O Lord of the Akhet, make a place for Unis.  W 165

This Teti is the sole lord  T 297; the sunlight's stretches have been loosed by this sole one who is stable every day  T 457, Nt 272a

All your foes are overthrown, the Unwearying Stars acclaim you, the Imperishable Stars worship you when you set in the horizon of Manu  Plate 18, Chap. 15

As for any male or female adversary who would do harm to Ani, whether he is one who shall descend from the sky or ascend from the earth, who shall come by water or travel in company with the stars, Thoth the son of an eggshell who came out of the two two eggshells shall decapitate them.  Plate 22, Chap. 134

Moon-god........Celestial Waters....mat  Plate 24, Chap. 124

'Book of Going forth by Day,' Theban Recension

He shall drink water of the river; he shall shine like a star in the sky.  Chap. 165

Thoth has fetched the Sacred Eye, having pacified the Eye after Ra had sent it away.  It was very angry, but Thoth pacified it from anger after it had been far away.  Chap. 167

Chapter for breaking an opening into the sky which Thoth made for Wennefer when he broke into the solar disk:

.........As for any noble dead for whom this ritual is performed over his coffin, there shall be opened for him four openings in the sky, one for the north wind - that is Osiris; another for the south wind - that is Re; another for the west wind - that is Isis; another for the east wind - that is Nephthys. As for each one of these winds which are in its opening, its task is to enter into his nose. No outsider knows for it is a secret which the common folk do not yet know; you shall not perform it over anyone, not your father or your son, except yourself alone. It is truly a secret, which no one of the people should know.  Chap. 161

O you great one who see your father, keeper of the book of Thoth, see, I have come spiritualized, besouled, mighty, and equipped with the writings of Thoth. Bring me the messenger of the earth-god who is with Seth, bring me a water-pot and palette from the writing-kit of Thoth and the mysteries which are within them.  Chap. 94

O Atum, give me the sweet breath which is in your nostril, for I seek out that great place which is in Wenu, I have guarded that Egg of the Great Cackler. If I am strong, it will be strong; if I live, it will live; if I breathe the air, it will breathe the air.  Chap. 56

The Papyrus of Sobekmose

I equipped Thoth in the Mansion of the Moon.... Chap. 80

Inscription of Amenhotep, son of Hapi:

"The Good God, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Nibmare (Amenhotep III), firstborn son of Harakhte, praised me. I was appointed to be inferior king's-scribe; I was introduced into the divine book, I beheld the excellent things of Thoth; I was equipped with their secrets; I opened al their [passages]; one took council with me on their matters."  (Ancient Records of Egypt Vol 2, Dyn 18; Breasted 1906: 915)

Chris Tedder, March 2010