Thoth
As a writer, an editor, and a teacher, I have great interest in this scribe god. Usually depicted as an ibis or a baboon, his sacred animals, Thoth was the eldest son of the sun god Ra, but other tales also say that he sprang from the head of the evil god Seth. In any case, Thoth was the vizier or sacred scribe of Osiris. As the god associated with secret knowledge, Thoth helped at the burial of Osiris creating the first Egyptian mummy.
Thoth also helped Isis raise Horus, Osiris' son. Eventually, Thoth succeeded Horus to the throne of Egypt where he led a splendid reign for over 3000 years. He later rose to the heavens taking his place as the moon.
One Egyptian story explains the changing phases of the moon: The sun god Ra ordered Thoth to light the night sky, but as the moon, Thoth was repeatedly eaten by fearsome monsters. These monsters would then disgorge him a little at a time over and over again, thus causing the changing faces of the moon.
Perhaps Thoth's most important role was as judge of the dead. On their journey through the underworld the dead were brought by Anubis before Thoth for judgement. Their heart, thought by the ancient Egyptians to contain thought and memory, was placed on a scale with the goddess of truth, Maat. If their heart balanced perfectly with the goddess the dead would be free to continue their journey to the afterlife. If it failed to balance with Maat, Ammut, with the head of a crocodile and the mane of a lion, would emerge from his hiding place to devour the spirit of the dead. Thoth would record this judgement.
What I find most exciting and most tantalizing is that it is said Thoth wrote a sacred book of magic - the Book of Thoth! This book is supposed to be buried deep in a hidden tomb near Memphis and the spells recorded within it are said to give one power over the gods!
How wondrous!
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