Myths about Thoth

Thoth as the protector of the moon: he is the left eye of god, as well as the heavens and the sun is god’s right eye. Along with Horus, this myth also explains the changes of the phases of the moon. In another myth known as the Contending’s of Horus and Set, Thoth heals the damaged Eye of Horus. Though Thoth did some important things as being Re’s protector, but he did an even more important task when it came to the rescue the eye of Re from Nubia. As a thank you, Re-created the moon and gave it to Thoth as a reward, as well as representing him in the night sky. Thoth was also given the task of measurer of time, which is represented by the symbol of cut palm fronds which he sometimes held. 

Thoth, as we know is a god of magic and he was the one who taught Isis magic. Thoth’s spell was the one that Isis used to bring her husband Osiris back to life, as well as infant Horus when he got stung by a Scorpion. 

Thoth was also the kingdom’s scribe and is known as the “lord of the sacred word”.  Thoth was the spiritual embodiment of knowledge -both scientific and literary. He was also the guard of the per ankh or the house of life, where all the sacred texts were kept on papyrus. The Books of Divine Words, also known as the book of Thoth (hyperlink) were said to have been written by Thoth. A collection of sacred spells was also thought to have been written by Thoth.

Representation: represented as the moon itself and in others, he is represented as the guardian of the moon. When he is the actual moon, he is known by the name “Lunar-Thoth”. A passage in the Turin Papyrus associates him with Duat (underworld) or the Underworld and it portrays Thoth as the educator or “enlightener” of Duat in the necropolis. Thoth is then hailed for being the teacher of the Underworld. 

Depiction of Thoth as the god of writing, he writes the hieroglyph representing truth. (photo: Pat Remler)