Thuity 405home of the early unifiers of Egypt, c. 3,000 B.C.E. The
Thinite royal dynasties of the earlier periods dominated
for centuries. A brick MASTABAtomb near the site con-
tained vases and jars with the seals of KHUFU(Cheops; r.
2551–2528 B.C.E.). This mastaba is at BEIT KHALLAF.
At the end of the First Intermediate Period (2134–
2040 B.C.E.) a battle was fought at Thinis between the
Tenth and Eleventh Dynasties. The KHETYSof the Tenth
Dynasty (c. 2000 B.C.E.) and the Thebans of the Eleventh
Dynasty (2134–2040 B.C.E.) engaged in military activities
there. Prince Herunefer of Thebes died in the confronta-
tion. Khety raids on Thinis and Abydos and the eventual
destruction of the ancient gravesites, viewed as a sacri-
lege, led to MONTUHOTEP II’s unification of Egypt c. 2040
B.C.E. and his destruction of the Khetys.
See also INSTRUCTIONS FOR MERIKARÉ.
Thinite Period This is a term used to designate the
earliest dynastic eras, dating to 2920 B.C.E., dated as well
from 3150 to 2700 B.C.E. in some lists. The unifiers of
Egypt marched on the Delta from THINIS(modern Girga)
near ABYDOS. They were the so-called FOLLOWERS OF
HORUS, a militaristic people led by NARMER. The Nagada
II, or Gerzean, artistic period demonstrates the advances
of the Thinite nome of Upper Egypt during the early
period. HIERAKONPOLISis part of this artistic era. PALETTES
and MACEHEADSdepict the unification of the Two King-
doms by Narmer and his predecessors. Architecturally
Hierakonpolis displayed political centralization and
advances in construction. The PALERMO STONEcites the
era’s achievements, and funerary regalia from tombs sup-
plement the documentation.
See also ART AND ARCHITECTURE; EGYPT.
Thoth The ancient god of learning and wisdom, also
called Djehuti, he was created from the seed of HORUSor
sprang from the head of SET, depending upon which cul-
tic tradition was preferred. He was called “the Master of
the Healing Arts,” “the Beautiful of Night,” “the Lord of
Heavens,” and “the Silent Being” and was also worshiped
as “the Excellent Scribe” and “Great of Magic.”
Thoth was usually depicted as a man with the head
of an IBIS, and his THEOPHANIESwere the ibis and the
BABOON. He was also considered a moon deity and was
sometimes shown carrying a SCEPTERand an ANKH.Thoth
was also honored as a scribe deity at HERMOPOLIS MAGNA
and then assigned greater prominence, assuming the head
of a dog-headed ape.
As the patron of the dead, Thoth wears an ATEF
crown; as the new moon, A’AH, he is depicted in mummi-
fied form. Thoth is credited with inventing the number
and the orbits of celestial bodies as the secretary of the
gods OSIRISand RÉ. In his astronomical role he was
addressed as “the Governor of the Years,” “the White
Disk,” and “the Bull Among the Stars of Heaven.”
Thoth was also a protector of priest-physicians and
was associated in some temples with the inundation of the
Nile. His great cultic festival was celebrated on the New
Year, and he was considered skilled in magic and became
the patron of all scribes throughout the nation. Thoth
appears in the HORUSlegends and was depicted in every
age as the god who “loved truth and hated abomination.”
He is credited with providing the EPAGOMENAL DAYS
in the Egyptian calendar and with the healing of the EYE
OF HORUS. Many cultic centers honored Thoth, and he
was particularly well served by the Tuthmossid rulers of
the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.)Thoth, Book of This was a mysterious text, described
as contained in 42 papyri and considered a treasury of
occult lore, now lost to the world. The document was
reportedly dictated by the god Thoth to priests and
scribes and maintained as sacred secrets to be kept hid-
den from uninitiated eyes.
Two of the sections of the Book of Thothcontained
hymns to the god. Four were dedicated to astronomical
lore, containing a list of fixed stars, an account of solar
and lunar eclipses, and sections concerning the rising of
the sun and moon. The skilled astronomers of Egypt had
to memorize these texts. Ten rolls of the book dealt with
religious matters, supplemented by 10 more rolls dealing
with priestly concerns, including obligations and regula-
tions of the various cults. The major thrust of the Book of
Thoth was philosophical, with scientific and medical
texts.
No longer in existence, or at least not yet discovered,
the Book of Thothwas supposed to be kept “inside an iron
box, inside a bronze box, covered by a sycamore box,
over an ebony or ivory box over a silver box... .” The
Book of Thothwas supposedly hidden in an area of the
Nile near KOPTOS. Because of its occult nature, the work
has been prominent in esoteric explanations of Egyptian
cultic practices, even though the actual texts have never
been available for modern studies.
See also SETNA KHAMWAS(2).Thuity(fl. 15th century B.C.E.)Noble official of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty
Serving HATSHEPSUT(r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.) and possibly
TUTHMOSIS I(r. 1504–1492 B.C.E.) and TUTHMOSIS II(r.
1492–1479 B.C.E.), Thuity was “the Overseer of the Dou-
ble Gold and Silver House,” the royal residence. He was
the successor to INENIin many positions. A hereditary
prince and count, Thuity started his court career as a
scribe and steward. He led an expedition to PUNTand
then supervised many of Hatshepsut’s building projects.
Thuity held titles in the government and in the temple.
He was also associated with the great barge called “Begin-
ning of the River-User-het-Amun.” Thuity was buried at
THEBES.