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Encyclopedia of African ReligionPub. date: 2009 | Online Pub. Date: January 26, 2009 | DOI: 10.4135/9781412964623 | Print ISBN: 9781412936361 | Online ISBN: 9781412964623| Publisher:SAGE Publications, Inc.
About this encyclopediaIbis, Symbol of Tehuti
Elizabeth Andrade
In ancient Kemet, Tehuti was the head or leader and messenger of the gods. Represented by an Ibis, Tehuti is also called Djehuty, Tahuti, Sheps, Lord of Khemenu, Khenti, Mehi, ASten, and Thoth, and, finally, Hermes Trismegistus. The name Tehuti is derived from the Kemetic tehu , meaning to measure in relation to the moon. Tehuti is derived from the oldest name of the Ibis in Egypt, hence his physical depiction as an Ibis, often illustrated with a head of an ibis as well as a baboon on occasion. Tehuti is known as the father of written language, and many other contributions to mankind are attributed to this legendary figure. Most of the Neteru or Gods were associated with an animal or totem. Of course, the Ibis is the symbol for Tehuti. An ibis is stork-like bird that is presently extinct in Egypt, but was plentiful in ancient Egypt. The ...
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