According to Kemetians, Tehuti was at the
beginning because he is said to be born of himself.
Tehuti symbolizes how the esoteric aspect of a
being can materialize into the exoteric. This ideol-
ogy is an aspect of the philosophy of the above
and the below or microcosm as a reflection of
the macrocosm. Tehuti is also referred to as the
“Divine Tongue” and represents the will to do and
courage to hone the higher faculties to maximize
one’s full potential.
Tehuti as Writer and SubjectTehuti made his mark on civilizations of the past,
and his contributions are still evident today. In
fact, philosophy credits him with writing more
than 1,000 books, and much of what has come
after him reflects his understandings about life on
and after Earth. He has made a significant contri-
bution to the history of Western thought. A few of
his most well-known texts are the 42 books of
Thoth, which detail instructions for achieving
immorality and foundation for much of the
Western sciences; and the Emerald Tablet, which
details “truth” and axioms of the universe and
the human connection to it, also known as the
Kybalion. He is also said to have authored the
Ebers Papyrusand the Divine Pymander.
Tehuti is said to have written and was written
about in texts ancient and modern, such as the
Book of the Coming Forth by Day, better
known as theEgyptian Book of the Dead, indi-
vidually, but more so in juxtaposition with other
Gods and Goddesses. These books were versions
of the original pyramid or funerary texts, a com-
pilation of spells that accompanied the
deceased, earlier only accessible to royal families
and later democratized. In the Pyramid Text,
Tehuti is thought to be a funerary entity, appear-
ing as a god who helps the Dead and awaited for
by those souls that passed onto the after- or
underworlds.
He is also referred to as the heart of Ra, the sun
god and master of the physical and spiritual
realms. Tehuti personifies Ra’s mind and heart
and built the Great Pyramid under his orders. In
mythology, the primordial egg was a gift to Tehuti
laid by the ibis, from wherein Ra emerged. InThe
Book of the Dead, Tehuti plays a significant role
by the weighing of souls before the acceptance or
denial into the afterworld. One could not access
the next level of existence without his permission.
He is also known as the brother of Osiris and
serves as the judge in the battle between Horus
and Set. Tehuti had the ability to, in his binary
relationship with Auset, resurrect Ausar to life.
In connection with Maat, the Goddess of
Justice, Reciprocity, and Truth, he established
the principles Maat represents. Tehuti and
Anubis balance the scales of Maat, judging heart
against feather.
Tehuti’s contributions to mankind extend
beyond the parameters of writing; he is also
known as a master in the areas of medicine,
chemistry, law, rhetoric, advanced mathematics,
astronomy, and early understandings of universal
order and principles.Elizabeth AndradeSeealsoAusar; AusetFurther Readings
Budge, W. E. A. (1969).The Gods of the Egyptians:Studies
in Egyptian Mythology(Vol. 1). New York: Dover.
Freke, T., & Gandy, P. (1997).The Hermetica:The Lost
Wisdom of the Pharaohs. London: Judy Piatkus.
Sertima, I. V. (1999).Egypt Revisited(5th ed.). New
Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publications.
Wilkinson, R. (2003).The Complete Gods and Goddesses
of Ancient Egypt. New York: Thames & Hudson.IDOMA
The Idoma-speaking peoples live in central
Nigeria. They inhabit Benue, Plateau, Cross River,
and Anambra States of Nigeria, with the majority
living in Benue State. There are also many Idoma
speakers in other parts of Nigeria, and the total
population is estimated to be about 5 million. In
Nigeria, Idoma-speaking people occupy impor-
tant positions in local, state, and national life, and
there are many university graduates, administra-
tors, and businesspeople among the Idoma. There
are many primary and secondary schools in
Idomaland, most of them established by Methodist
and Roman Catholic missionary groups. OnlyIdoma 327