Ancient Egyptian Faience Babi Thoth Circa 400 B.C

Size:    H: 1 3/4"(4.4 cm)

Provenance:   Private Ca Collection

Historical Background:

Thoth has been depicted in many ways depending on the era and on the aspect the artist wished to convey. Usually, he is depicted in human form with the head of an ibis.[20] In this form, he can be represented as the reckoner of times and seasons by a lunar disk sitting in a crescent moon being placed atop his head. When depicted as a form of Shu or Ankher, he will wear the respective god's headdress. He also is sometimes seen wearing the atef crown and the United Crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.[21]

When not depicted in this common form, he sometimes takes the form of the ibis directly.[20] He also appears as a dog faced baboon or a man with the head of a baboon when he is A'an, the god of equilibrium.[22] In the form of A'ah-Djehuty he took a more human-looking form.[23]

These forms are all symbolic and are metaphors for Thoth's attributes. The Egyptians did not believe these gods actually looked like humans with animal heads. For example, Thoth's counterpart Ma'at is often depicted with an ostrich feather, "the feather of truth," on her head[citation needed], or with a feather for a head.[24]

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