Thoth

Mythology

Thoth (originally Egyptian Djehuty) is one of the most ancient gods of the Egyptian pantheon, documented from the dynasty 1 (3000 BC). He is god of: 1) Writing and language — invented the hieroglyphs, taught the language to humanity. 2) Mathematics — measures the world, calculates the sacred proportions. 3) Astronomy — measures the celestial cycles, arranges the calendars. 4) Sacred magic — patron of magicians and priests. 5) Wisdom in general — divine teacher, scribe of the gods.

Famous myths: 1) Thoth helps Horus recover his eye torn out by Seth (see Eye of Horus) — Thoth magically recovers and reconstructs the broken eye. 2) Thoth invents the calendar of 365 days — and gains 5 extra days in challenge with the moon, so that the goddess Nut could give birth to her sons (Osiris, Isis, Seth, Nephthys, etc., the original Egyptian deities). 3) Thoth in the weighing of the heart — central scene of the judgement of Osiris in the underworld; Thoth records the result of the weighing of the heart of the deceased against the feather of Maat (justice). 4) Thoth as "voice of Ra" — diplomat of the gods, intermediary between deities, mediator of conflicts.

Iconography and Greek-Roman syncretism

Iconography: head of ibis on a male body (the ibis was sacred bird in Egypt — the Egyptians cultivated thousands of mummified ibis as ritual offerings to Thoth), or alternatively head of cynocephalous baboon (sacred animal also of Thoth). His main attributes: writing palette and reed pen of the scribe (in his hands), book / papyrus / scroll, "was" sceptre of authority, moon disk crowning his head (Thoth is also lunar deity — measurer of cycles).

Greek-Roman Hellenistic syncretism: when the Greeks conquered Egypt with Alexander the Great (4th century BC) and especially during the Ptolemaic period (3rd-1st centuries BC), Greek and Egyptian culture syncretised intensively. The Greeks identified Thoth with their own god Hermes (who is also messenger of the gods, god of writing, of magic, of the sciences, psychopomp). This identification gave rise to Hermes Trismegistus ("Hermes Thrice-Greatest") — composite figure synthesising Egyptian Thoth and Greek Hermes — to whom the entire Corpus Hermeticum (foundational text of Western Hermeticism) and the famous Emerald Tablet were attributed.

Lasting legacy: through the Hellenistic syncretism, Thoth-Hermes became archetypal patron of all Western esotericism. His name pervades the disciplines: Hermeticism, hermetic seal in alchemy, hermeneutics in philosophy of interpretation, the famous (although legendary) Book of Thoth, Crowley's Thoth Tarot. Thoth is therefore one of the most influential figures of the entire history of Western esotericism — although under the Hellenised name "Hermes Trismegistus" his original Egyptian roots are sometimes forgotten.

Working with Thoth today

In modern esoteric tradition, Thoth is invoked for: 1) Sustained intellectual work — scholars, writers, scientists, philosophers, students. 2) Magical work that requires precision and exactitude (rather than emotional intensity). 3) Sustained Hermetic-alchemical study. 4) Sacred mathematics and geometry. 5) Astrological work (especially astronomical-mathematical aspects). 6) Justice and impartial judgement. Recommended offerings: written texts (you can write him a letter explaining your spiritual-academic project), ink and quality pens (Thoth will appreciate that you take your tools of writing seriously), mathematical or astronomical books, ibis figures.