Last Updated on August 1, 2026 by Staff
I found it really interesting that a new study might have finally figured out one of the mysteries of ancient Egypt. The question is why the moon god Thoth was represented by two different animals: the sacred ibis and the hamadryas baboon.
Researchers from Dartmouth College. The University of St Andrews used special technology to measure the colors of these animals. What they found was surprising: both animals reflected light in a way that’s very similar to the moon. This suggests that the ancient Egyptians associated these animals with the moon because of the way they looked.
The study, which was published in the journal Time and Mind gives us ideas about how ancient Egyptians thought about nature, religion and symbols.
This study is different because it does not just focus on mythology. Instead it combines archaeology, anthropology and modern science to explain why these two animals were considered sacred thousands of years ago.
Two Sacred Animals
Thoth was one of the important gods in ancient Egyptian civilization. He was associated with the moon, wisdom, writing, knowledge and magic. What is unusual about Thoth is that he was represented by two animals. Many Egyptian gods were represented by one animal but not Thoth. One of the animals was the ibis, a white bird with a long curved beak that lived all over ancient Egypt.
The other animal was the hamadryas baboon, a monkey that did not naturally live in Egypt. This has been a puzzle for historians for a time. The ancient Egyptians actually imported baboons from parts of Africa and many baboon mummies have been found in temples and tombs.
Although there were species of baboons that the Egyptians knew about only the silver-colored hamadryas baboon was closely connected to Thoth. Scientists wanted to understand what made this particular animal so special to the Egyptians.
Moon-Like Colors
To solve this mystery researchers used a method called spectroscopy. This method measures how surfaces reflect light. By just looking at the colors the instrument recorded the exact wavelengths of light that were reflected from the animals fur and feathers. The team studied museum specimens of both ibises and baboons. The results were really interesting. The olive baboon, another species that the ancient Egyptians knew about, reflected tones that did not look like moonlight.
In contrast the hamadryas baboon reflected silver-white light that looked very much like the moon. Male hamadryas baboons were especially striking because of their silver shoulder capes and bright white facial hair.
The sacred ibis produced results. Its brilliant white feathers reflected light exactly like moonlight, which made it stand out from other ibis species that also lived in ancient Egypt.
Solving the Mystery
For a time Egyptologists believed that the connection between Thoth and the baboon was symbolic but they did not have a good explanation for it. This research provides the scientific evidence so far. The ancient Egyptians probably chose these two animals because they both naturally displayed colors that reminded them of the glowing moon.
It is interesting that the Egyptians had species of ibises and knew about multiple species of baboons but only the whitest ones became sacred representations of Thoth. Researchers do not think this was a coincidence.
Instead the moon-like appearance of these animals probably had religious significance. This discovery also supports linguistic research that suggested Thoth’s ancient Egyptian name may have originally referred to something bright or white.
The physical appearance of these animals matches that description perfectly.
Looking Into the Past
This study does more than just solve a puzzle. It also helps scientists understand how ancient Egyptians viewed the world. Most African cultures traditionally saw baboons as animals because they would often raid crops.
The ancient Egyptians were different. They respected baboons so much that they gave them divine status.
Researchers say this gives us a glimpse into the thinking and beliefs of one of history’s greatest civilizations. Usually archaeologists learn about societies by studying monuments, inscriptions and artifacts. Studies like this allow scientists to explore something harder to find out: how ancient people actually perceived the world around them. By combining technology with historical research scientists have shown that even after thousands of years nature still holds clues that can explain ancient religious traditions.
The shimmering silver fur of the hamadryas baboon and the brilliant white feathers of the sacred ibis may have been more than just beautiful. They may have reflected the moon itself making these animals the perfect earthly symbols of Egypt’s legendary moon god Thoth.