The Meaning of the Baboon in ancient Kemet
(ian)
Appearance: Only two species of primate were known in Ancient Kemet: the cercopithand the dog-faced baboon (Papio hamadryas). The latter was sacred in ancient Kemet. It was a native of Nubia, it was brought into Kemet in pre-dynastic times.
Baboons were very revered in ancient Kemet, and sometimes kept as pets. Many tomb scenes show the animal led on a leash, or playing with the children of the household. It is believed that some baboons were trained by their owners to pick figs in the trees for them.
The baboon was also very admired in ancient Kemet for its intelligence.
Meaning: The baboon held several positions in Kemetian mythology. The name of the Neter who was symbolized by the Baboon was Baba, who was revered in Pre-Dynastic times, Baba-Ba -Universal Soul - Personal Soul =BaBa) (Ba-Boon - Ba -Soul - Boon - Moon ) was the origin of the animal's name.
By the time of the Old Kingdom, the baboon symbol was revealed to be the Neter of wisdom, science and measurement, Tehuti. As Tehuti's sacred animal, the baboon was often shown directing scribes in their task. As Tehuti was a Neter of the moon-(a reflection of the light of RE - cause & effect), his baboons/Monks-Priests. Monkeys) were often shown wearing the crescent moon on their head (as shown in the statue below). Baboons carried out Tehuti's duties as the Neter of measurement when they were portrayed at the spout of water clocks, and on the scales which weighed the heart of the deceased in the judgement of the dead.
The baboon had several other funerary roles. Baboons guarded the first gate of the underworld in the Book of That Which is in the Underworld. In Chapter 155 of the Book of Coming Forth By Day, four baboons/Monks were described as sitting at the corners of a pool of fire in the Afterlife. One of the Four Sons of Heru, Hapy, had the head of a baboon- (High Priest of the Monks) and protected the lungs- breath- eternal life of the deceased.
As mentioned earlier, the baboon was associated with the moon due to his connection with Tehuti. However, the baboon was more often considered a symbol of a solar animal by theancient Kemetians than a lunar animal. This was due to the animals habit of screeching atdaybreak/ Dawn, and their practice of warming themselves in the early morning sun. (This is a symbol in nature of the solar light of Re (Divine Conscousness, and the Dawning of Consciousness in man.) (The Baboon symbolizes the awaking of divine consciousness in man.) Screeching or awakening at dawn is symbolic of awakening in consciousness.
The ancient Kemetians knew these were signs that the baboon were connected to the sun/Divine Consciousness. Baboons were often portrayed in art with their arms raised in worship of the sun. They were also shown holding the Udjat, a solar symbol or shown riding in the day boat of the sun-god Re.
It is important to note that the Ibis bird is a more revered symbol of Tehuti than the baboon*****
Symbol of Baboons showing the way to Sabtu
Symbol of the baba weighing the chakra scale as Ammit looks on.
Appearance: Only two species of primate were known in Ancient Kemet: the cercopithand the dog-faced baboon (Papio hamadryas). The latter was sacred in ancient Kemet. It was a native of Nubia, it was brought into Kemet in pre-dynastic times.
Baboons were very revered in ancient Kemet, and sometimes kept as pets. Many tomb scenes show the animal led on a leash, or playing with the children of the household. It is believed that some baboons were trained by their owners to pick figs in the trees for them.
The baboon was also very admired in ancient Kemet for its intelligence.
Meaning: The baboon held several positions in Kemetian mythology. The name of the Neter who was symbolized by the Baboon was Baba, who was revered in Pre-Dynastic times, Baba-Ba -Universal Soul - Personal Soul =BaBa) (Ba-Boon - Ba -Soul - Boon - Moon ) was the origin of the animal's name.
By the time of the Old Kingdom, the baboon symbol was revealed to be the Neter of wisdom, science and measurement, Tehuti. As Tehuti's sacred animal, the baboon was often shown directing scribes in their task. As Tehuti was a Neter of the moon-(a reflection of the light of RE - cause & effect), his baboons/Monks-Priests. Monkeys) were often shown wearing the crescent moon on their head (as shown in the statue below). Baboons carried out Tehuti's duties as the Neter of measurement when they were portrayed at the spout of water clocks, and on the scales which weighed the heart of the deceased in the judgement of the dead.
The baboon had several other funerary roles. Baboons guarded the first gate of the underworld in the Book of That Which is in the Underworld. In Chapter 155 of the Book of Coming Forth By Day, four baboons/Monks were described as sitting at the corners of a pool of fire in the Afterlife. One of the Four Sons of Heru, Hapy, had the head of a baboon- (High Priest of the Monks) and protected the lungs- breath- eternal life of the deceased.
As mentioned earlier, the baboon was associated with the moon due to his connection with Tehuti. However, the baboon was more often considered a symbol of a solar animal by theancient Kemetians than a lunar animal. This was due to the animals habit of screeching atdaybreak/ Dawn, and their practice of warming themselves in the early morning sun. (This is a symbol in nature of the solar light of Re (Divine Conscousness, and the Dawning of Consciousness in man.) (The Baboon symbolizes the awaking of divine consciousness in man.) Screeching or awakening at dawn is symbolic of awakening in consciousness.
The ancient Kemetians knew these were signs that the baboon were connected to the sun/Divine Consciousness. Baboons were often portrayed in art with their arms raised in worship of the sun. They were also shown holding the Udjat, a solar symbol or shown riding in the day boat of the sun-god Re.
It is important to note that the Ibis bird is a more revered symbol of Tehuti than the baboon*****
Symbol of Baboons showing the way to SabtuSymbol of the baba weighing the chakra scale as Ammit looks on.