Thoth was the Egyptian god of writing and knowledge, often depicted with the head of an ibis.
Ancient Egyptians credited Thoth with inventing writing, hieroglyphs, and the tools of scribal learning. He served as the gods’ divine scribe and was associated with wisdom, science, magic, measurement, judgment, and the Moon. His ibis head reflected the bird’s sacred status and may also have evoked the crescent shape of its curved beak.
Thoth played an important role in the judgment of the dead. While Anubis managed the scales and Osiris presided over the tribunal, Thoth recorded the result when the deceased’s heart was weighed against the feather of Ma’at. His role emphasized accurate knowledge and impartial order.
He was also depicted as a baboon, another animal sacred to him. His chief cult center was Hermopolis, called Khmun by the Egyptians. Greek writers later identified him with Hermes, contributing to the tradition of Hermes Trismegistus and the legendary Book of Thoth.