Egyptian Bronze, Thot in a form of an ibis

THOTH IBIS
Egypt, Late Period
Bronze
Length: 18 cm

Provenance:
Former private collection from the 60s-80s

Votive statuette representing the god Thoth in the form of a resting ibis, with incised lines depicting the tail feathers.

The cult of Thoth—depicted either as an ibis or a baboon—has been attested since the Old Kingdom; by the Middle Kingdom, it had spread throughout Egypt. His principal temple was located in Hermopolis Magna, in the 15th nome of Upper Egypt. There, he was regarded as a demiurge, not created by any other god. His consort was Nehemetawy.
In the Late Period, Thoth was considered the son of Ra and Neith. In Hermopolitan cosmology, he organized matter and created the universe through the creative word that fell from his beak. Thus, he became the god of language and intelligence, the inventor of writing, and the patron of scribes.
He established the rules governing both human society and the divine pantheon, earning the title “Bull of Ma’at.” He was also the master of calculation, time, and measurements (the cubit—approximately 52 cm—was said to be based on the stride of an ibis).
By healing the eye of Ra, he became, during the Late Period, the patron of physicians. As the custodian of Ma’at, he played a crucial role in the afterlife, introducing the deceased to Osiris and the forty-two judges. During the weighing of the heart (psychostasia), Thoth recorded the outcome. As the author of the Book of Breathings, he gave the breath of life to the deceased. He also played an important role in the myth of the Distant Goddess.

During the Late Period, the cult of Thoth experienced significant growth, particularly in Hermopolis Magna and Saqqara, where millions of ibises were mummified and placed in dedicated catacombs. These bronze statuettes were often placed atop jars containing mummified ibises or offered as votive gifts by devotees seeking divine favor.