Moonlight-like fur and feathers may explain Egyptian god Thoth's two animal forms
Researchers have proposed that the ancient Egyptian god Thoth was represented by both an ibis and a baboon because both animals possess fur or feathers that reflect moonlight. This finding may resolve a long-standing debate regarding the deity's dual animal forms.
Why it matters
This study bridges the gap between biological observation and historical mythology, offering a scientific explanation for cultural symbolism.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source The moon next to an adult male sacred baboon (Papio hamadryas) , both share the same silvery-gray color. Credit: André Karwath, CC BY-SA 2.5 in Dominy & Hobaiter 2026 The ancient Egyptian god of the moon had two very different faces: a crescent-beaked white bird and a silver-coated baboon. Now, researchers think they may have found the common thread connecting them all.
Using an instrument that measures light, the researchers pointed at the silvery fur of the sacred baboon (Papio hamadryas) and the white feathers of the sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), and both shone back with the brilliance of the moon, possibly ending a decades old debate.
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