Egypt, Late Dynastic to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664 to 30 BCE. A mold-formed faience figure of Thoth, the god of writing, mathematics, and myriad other intellectual pursuits. Typically depicted as an ibis-headed man, Thoth is shown here as a baboon seated atop an integral discoid plinth with genitalia hanging between bent legs and raised knees. The baboon showcases dozens of U-shaped rungs along the back and shoulders indicative of fur and a rectangular pectoral ornament atop the chest. The stocky snout protrudes beneath petite eyes and between flared mane hairs, and lustrous green glaze covers all surfaces of the figure. Size: 1" W x 1.8" H (2.5 cm x 4.6 cm)

According to Egyptologists Erik Hornung and Betsy M. Bryan, "As primeval animals, baboons and green monkeys were prominent parts of the Egyptian cosmogony. The earliest gods are sometimes depicted with baboon heads. The baboon became an aspect of the sun god, Re . . . And of the moon god, Thoth-Khonsu. Thoth (Djehuty in ancient Egyptian) was the god of writing and knowledge, who was depicted in the form of two animals: the baboon (Papio cynocephalus) and the sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus). In his baboon form Thoth was closely associated with the baboon god, Hedj-wer (the great white one) of the Early Dynastic period. By the end of the Old Kingdom (2686 - 2181 BCE) he was usually portrayed as an ibis-headed man, holding a scribal palette and pen or a notched palm leaf, performing some kind of act of recording or calculation." (Hornung, Erik and Betsy M. Bryan, eds. "The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt." National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2002, p. 200)

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000

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#158506

Minor chips to top of head and around body, with light fading to glaze pigment, and encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and very good. Great preservation of finer details and nice remains of glaze color throughout.