How did ancient civilizations view wisdom? Did knowledge have a single face, or did it diverge according to different cultures?
Wisdom and knowledge have always been core values respected by ancient civilizations, and many gods have emerged to embody these values in different mythologies. In the Sumerian civilization, Enki was the symbol of wisdom, fresh water, and creation, while in the Egyptian civilization, Thoth was the god who represented knowledge, writing, and magic. This article presents a comparison of these two gods, revealing their similarities and differences.
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| Enki and Thoth |
Who is Enki in Sumerian mythology?
In Sumerian mythology, Enki (later known as Ea in Babylonian mythology) is considered is considered one of the great gods. He was the god of wisdom and fresh water and was responsible for magic, arts and crafts. Enki was described as having a sharp mind and able to find solutions to the complex issues facing gods and humans alike. Enki was depicted sitting on his throne in the Abzu with an urn of water in his hand, from which water flows, symbolizing life. Enki was known to be the son of the great god Anu and the brother of the god Enlil, lord of the air, and his sacred city was Eridu, where his ziggurat and his secret place in the depths of the Abzu.
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| Utu, Nannar, Ninurta visit Enki in his Eridu ziggurat |
One of his most famous legends tells of his role in saving humanity from the Great Flood. When the god Enlil decided to destroy humans because of their constant noise, Enki warned Ziusudra and gave him instructions to build a ship that would save him from drowning. This story is very similar to the story of the Flood in the later Abrahamic religions.
He was also known for his cunning and intelligence and always resorted to humans and gods to help them with their troubles, for example, when Inanna descended to the underworld and did not return, her assistant Ninshubur went to the god Enlil, but he did not help her, and the god Nanna did not help her, and when she turned to the god Enki Enki, the god of wisdom, helped her to retrieve Inana, as in the well-known story you can read more about it here (Inanna's Descent into the Underworld )
Who is Thoth in Egyptian mythology?
Thoth was the god of the moon, wisdom, learning, sacred texts, mathematics, science and magic, as well as being a messenger and recorder of the Panethians, a master of knowledge and the patron god of scribes. Thoth is often depicted in art as an ibis-headed man, often shown holding a tablet and a scribe, but he was also depicted holding an ankh in one hand representing life, and a scepter in the other representing power.
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| Thoth,Luxor, Egypt:Ramesseum, mortuary temple of king en:Ramesses II Date 23 March 2016 Source Own work Author Djehuty |
On his head, Thoth sometimes wore a crescent moon, but he was also depicted wearing the double crown of Egypt. Thoth was one of the oldest Egyptian gods and was revered throughout Egypt, especially in the city of Hermopolis Magna, where he was worshipped.
The power of his cult was so great that the story was rewritten as Thoth becoming the creator god, creating himself with the power of language, then laying an egg from which Ra and the universe as we know it were born. Although Osiris and Isis were usually credited with bringing civilization to humans, Thoth was thought to have gifted humanity with writing, medicine, magic, and the religious and social practices of Egypt.
He was the scribe of the afterlife and recorded the judgment of the dead in the Hall of Maat. From this role, he earned the titles “God of Balance” and “Master of Balance”. Besides being the scribe of the gods, he was often described as acting as an advisor to Ra and even standing on the sun barge alongside Ra on his nightly journey across the sky.
In many stories of Egyptian mythology, Thoth is rarely the main character, but rather a guiding force, whose almost infinite wisdom and knowledge prevents disasters and brings the world back into balance. In the tale of Osiris, Thoth gave Isis the amulet to revive Osiris after his brother Set brutally murdered him.
Thoth also went to the rescue of Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, by expelling a magical poison from his body, and supported him in his fight against Set for the throne that was rightfully his. Since Thoth was associated with writing and the moon, it is not surprising that he was also associated with the creation of the lunar calendar that governed many civil and religious practices in Egypt.
Thoth was believed to be the inventor of the 365-day calendar, which replaced the ancient 360-day calendar. According to legend, he obtained the extra five days by gambling with the moon god Khonsu in a game of dice in order to help the goddess Nut. Nut had become pregnant by her husband Geb, but Ra prevented her from giving birth on any day of the Egyptian calendar.
Similarities between Enki and Thoth
Although the Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations were different, there are many commonalities between Enki and Thoth
- They both represent wisdom, secret knowledge, and creative power, and had a role in transmitting science to humans.
- Both are considered intermediaries between the gods and humans, helping to regulate the relationship between them.
- Both were associated with magic and supernatural powers, using their knowledge to solve issues.
- Both were associated with teaching humans important aspects of civilization; Enki taught humans arts and crafts, and Thoth taught them writing and language
Differences between Enki and Thoth
Despite the many similarities, there are fundamental differences between the two gods
- The primary sphere of power: Enki is associated with fresh water and creation, while Thoth is associated with justice and cosmic order.
- Personality and style: Enki was known for his cunning and intelligence, while Thoth was more neutral and balanced.
- Religious Status: Enki was one of the three great gods of Sumer, while Thoth was an auxiliary god within the Egyptian divine complex.
Comparison: Enki vs Thoth
| Aspect | Enki | Thoth |
|---|---|---|
| Culture | Mesopotamian (Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian) | Egyptian |
| Domain | God of Water, Wisdom, Creation | God of Wisdom, Writing, Magic |
| Symbols | Goat-fish, Streams of Water | Ibis, Moon, Writing Palette |
| Worship Centers | Eridu | Hermopolis |
| Major Myths | Creation of Humanity, The Flood Myth | Weighing of the Heart, Book of Thoth |
Conclusion
The comparison of Enki and Thoth shows how the concept of wisdom manifested itself in different forms in ancient civilizations.
While Enki embodied practical wisdom and clever solutions, Thoth symbolized order and justice. By studying these gods, we can understand how ancient peoples viewed knowledge, and how these beliefs influenced subsequent intellectual and cultural developments.
In your opinion, were the Egyptian and Sumerian views of wisdom exactly the same, or did each civilization have its own unique perspective?
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