Limestone Statue of a Baboon, MG 005

This baboon (H19.5), of limestone, is seen squatting, forearms resting on its knees. A hole drilled into the crown of the head reveals that it was originally provided with a headdress. Other statuettes feature a combination of the sun disc and crescent moon, made of gilded wood. The Hamadryas baboon was typical of the New Kingdom distinguished by projecting whiskers and a thick shoulder mane. The smoothing of the face and shoulders of this statue reflects stylistic tendencies of the Late Period when other species of baboon were imported. Limestone statues were often brightly painted. The baboon was one of the manifestations of the god Thoth, an Egyptian moon deity, who was also depicted as an ibis-headed man. Thoth personified divine speech and was a god of writing, mathematics, astronomy and healing. Baboons were represented in the burial chamber of Tutankhamun and were common among the animal species excavated at the great animal necropolis in North Saqqara.