Seated Baboon
1 of 2
Object Label
The baboon, like the ibis, was sacred to the god Thoth. A small number of baboon mummies were buried in the ibis cemeteries. The wooden baboon shown here perhaps was part of a shrine of Thoth as a baboon. The small appliqué also on view was once attached to a baboon mummy. Bronze figurines of baboons, like the third object displayed here, were symbols used by scribes, who worshipped Thoth as the god of writing.
Caption
Seated Baboon, ca. 1539–1075 B.C.E, or 664–332B C.E.. Wood, 9 x 5 1/4 x 1 9/16 in. (22.8 x 13.4 x 3.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 61.127. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (Gavin Ashworth, photographer), 61.127_Gavin_Ashworth_photograph.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Gallery
Not on view
Title
Seated Baboon
Date
ca. 1539–1075 B.C.E, or 664–332B C.E.
Dynasty
Dynasty 18 to Dynasty 20 or Dynasty 26 to Dynasty 31
Period
New Kingdom or Late Period
Medium
Wood
Classification
Dimensions
9 x 5 1/4 x 1 9/16 in. (22.8 x 13.4 x 3.9 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
61.127
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
Tell me more.
That wooden sculpture is of a seated baboon. Baboons were associated with the god of wisdom and knowledge, Thoth. You'll notice that the back is flat and undecorated, meaning this likely served as a part of a shrine.What did baboons represent?
Because baboons raise their arms every morning to warm their bodies with the light of the sun, and they shout at dawn as if to greet the sun, they are associated with the sun god, Re. They were also associated with Thoth, the god of wisdom, because they were understood as very intelligent animals. Their sometimes aggressive nature led them to be seen as guardians as well.
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