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Thoth: The Scribe of Life
Look at the sculpture pictured here. It is a representation of an ibis. Ibis are wading birds with long legs and curved, slender bills. At one time ibis lived in Egypt, where they were honored by the ancient Egyptians.
Thoth, the god of writing and intelligence, was often represented as an ibis or as a human with the head of an ibis. Ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods. They believed that a number of gods had animal traits, so they were often represented either as animals or as part animal, part human. Each god played a specific role in the ceremonies and rituals devoted to the living and in the journey of the dead to the afterlife.
Ancient Egyptians created a type of writing called hieroglyphics to record sounds and symbols. People trained to write hieroglyphics were called scribes. The writing of hieroglyphics was considered a sacred act, and Egyptians believed that Thoth presided over the scribes. They also believed that Thoth was present to record in writing the transition of the dead from life to the afterlife.
This bronze sculpture of an ibis was made in Egypt between 712–332 BC. It was probably attached to a staff to create a standard (a type of banner). Priests or government officials would have carried the standard in religious processions or parades.
You can see this ibis processional standard and images of other Egyptian gods when you visit the ancient Egyptian art galleries on the second floor of the Ahmanson Building at LACMA.
Search Collections Online for other Egyptian artworks.
Image above:
Ibis Processional Standard, Egypt, Late Period, 26th dynasty, 664–525 BCE, bronze, 15 x 11 ¼ x 5/8 in., M.91.73, Art Museum Council Fund,
photo © 2006 Museum Associates/LACMA.
Text prepared by the Education Department, LACMA, for the "Kids' Reading Room" (Los Angeles Times, September 28, 2004).
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Welcome to Artwork of the Month! Visit this page every month to explore a new treasure from LACMA's extensive collections.
Artwork of the Month is intended for children but can also be a fun resource for students, teachers, and families who want to learn more about artworks in LACMA's permanent collection and special exhibitions.
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