New Kingdom Faience Amulet of Thoth

Thoth was one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon. He was believed to be the god of mathematics and writing. He was believed to be the patron god of scribes, and is frequently depicted carrying the writing utensils of a scribe and papyrus. Thoth was also considered to be a god of the moon, and in this incarnation, he is frequently depicted as a baboon. One of the god’s most important roles, however, was as the god who leads the souls of the deceased to the hall of Osiris, where the heart of the deceased would be weighed and his or her fate decided. This beautiful faience amulet depicts Thoth in his most common iconographic form, that of an ibis-headed man. The god wears a kilt and strides forward on his left leg, a pose commonly employed in the depiction of standing figures. On his head is an atef crown. His hands are raised to the level of his chest, and he holds an unidentified attribute (perhaps an ibis effigy or a Ma’at feather) in both hands. This amulet was probably worn or carried to invoke the protective powers of the god. – (PF.2990)