Book of Thoth
The Divine Grimoire of Egypt's God of Wisdom
Description and Contents
The Book of Thoth is a legendary Egyptian magical text said to have been written by Thoth himself, the ibis-headed god of wisdom, writing, magic, and the moon. According to ancient sources, this book contained only two spells, but these spells granted their reader godlike powers over the cosmos itself.
The book was hidden by Thoth within multiple nested boxes at the bottom of the Nile, guarded by serpents and magical protections. Despite its dangers, the allure of its power drew seekers throughout Egyptian history, most famously the prince Setne Khaemwas.
The Two Spells:
- First Spell: Enchants heaven, earth, underworld, mountains, and waters; reveals all birds, fish, and beasts; allows understanding of the language of animals
- Second Spell: Allows one to see the sun rising with his retinue of gods, and to perceive the moon rising with all her stars
The Tale of Setne Khaemwas
The most famous myth about the Book of Thoth comes from the Demotic tales of Setne Khaemwas, a historical prince and high priest of Ptah who became legendary for his magical knowledge. In the story, Setne learned that the book had already been found by a previous seeker, the prince Naneferkaptah, and lay with him in his tomb.
Naneferkaptah told Setne his tragic tale: how he had braved the Nile's depths, defeated the serpent guardian, and obtained the book. But Thoth's vengeance was swift. Naneferkaptah's wife and son both died, and he himself drowned, the book remaining with his body in death.
Setne took the book anyway, but suffered such supernatural torments that he was forced to return it to the tomb. The tale serves as a warning: divine knowledge is not meant for mortals, and those who seek to steal the gods' secrets will pay a terrible price.
Later Traditions
The concept of the Book of Thoth was adopted by the Hermetic tradition, which identified Thoth with the Greek Hermes and created the figure of Hermes Trismegistus ("Thrice-Greatest Hermes"). The Hermetic texts, written in the early centuries CE, claimed to preserve the secret teachings of Thoth/Hermes.
In the Western occult tradition, the "Book of Thoth" became associated with various magical texts and grimoires. In the 20th century, Aleister Crowley titled his interpretation of the Tarot "The Book of Thoth," connecting the concept to esoteric card reading. The Egyptian Book of the Dead has also sometimes been confused with or identified as the Book of Thoth.
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Bibliography
- Lichtheim, Miriam. Ancient Egyptian Literature. Vol. 3. University of California Press, 2006.
- Pinch, Geraldine. Magic in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press, 1994.
- Fowden, Garth. The Egyptian Hermes. Princeton University Press, 1986.