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| Thoth in his baboon manifestation, British Museum |
“A bird and a baboon as the god of
wisdom?”
“Not so unexpected. Have you ever looked at an ibis?
The curve of its beak echoes a crescent moon, or perhaps the rim of an eclipse.
Watch the measured way an ibis strides, picking out small fish, snakes, frogs
and insects like a master scribe judiciously selecting his words. Thoth was
also the god of time and measurement. Picture the way the ibis strides the
fields of Egypt, pace by measuring pace, like a scribal surveyor of ancient
times re-measuring the land and setting boundaries after mud from the
inundation covered the river banks.”
“And a baboon?”
“Before man could utter words, baboons were facing
the rising sun and chattering. Look into those deep-set eyes and it’s possible
to believe that you’re looking into the depths of mysterious wisdom and it was
mainly in the form of a baboon that scribes revered Thoth as the ‘Lord of
Script...’”
(Excerpt)
