Figurine of Thoth as a squatting baboon with hands on knees and feet on round backed base. The figurine is made of blue-green faience with facial details, ears, fur, buttocks, and the edge of the base picked out in black.

Bibliography:  For more information, see:

Luiselli, M. M. 2016. 'Living with the Gods: Religion and Daily Life in Ancient Egypt', in S. Boonstra (ed.), Objects Come to Life Virtual Exhibition, Birmingham Egyptology.

Georganteli, E. and Bommas, M. (eds.) 2010. Sacred and Profane: Treasures of Ancient Egypt from the Myers Collection, Eton College and University of Birmingham. London. (Page 65, Entry No. 51).

Spurr, S., Reeves, N., and Quirke, S. 1999. Egyptian Art at Eton College: Selections from the Myers Museum. Windsor and New York. (Page 20, Entry No. 13).

Reeves, N. (ed.) 2008. Egyptian Art at Eton College and Durham University: Catalogue of a loan exhibition to Japan, 24 February-30 November 2008. With contributions from C. Barclay, T. Hardwick, S. Quirke, N. Reeves, J. Ruffle,
H. Schneider, and S. Spurr (Page 94, Entry No. 106).

Notes:  This small, crouching figurine, possibly also an amulet despite the missing lug, represents the god Thoth in his manifestation as a cynocephalus. The black dots and marks on the figurine mark the fur. Whilst Thoth was one of the most relevant deiteis of the Egyptian pantheon, he was also widely worshiped by ordinary people. Large-scale statues of Thoth as the lunar baboon were erected by Amenhotep III at the entrance of the god's temple of Hermopolis. Since in his form as baboon Thoth is often associated with scribes, the present figurine may well have been owned by a scribe or a pupil, who wished to be close to the divine patron of his profession.

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