Iah

For other uses, see IAH.
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"Iah"[1]
in hieroglyphs

Iah ( Egyptian: Jˁḥ, transliterated as Yah, Jah, Jah(w), Joh or Aah [2]) is a lunar deity in ancient Egyptian religion. His name simply means "Moon". By the New Kingdom, he was less prominent than other gods with lunar connections, Thoth and Khonsu. As a result of the functional connection between them he could be identified with either of those deities.

He was sometimes considered an adult form of Khonsu and was increasingly absorbed by him. Iah continued to appear in amulets and occasional other representations, similar to Khonsu in appearance, with the same lunar symbols on his head and occasionally the same tight garments. He differed in usually wearing a full wig instead of a child's sidelock, and sometimes the Atef topped by another symbol.[3] As time went on, Iah also became Iah-Djuhty, meaning "god of the new moon."[4]

Iah was also assimilated with Osiris, god of the dead, perhaps because, in its monthly cycle, the moon appears to renew itself. Iah also seems to have assumed the lunar aspect of Thoth, god of knowledge, writing and calculation; the segments of the moon were used as fractional symbols in writing.[5]

One queen was named Iah.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Allen, James P. (2000). Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs. Cambridge University Press. p. 436
  2. ↑ Ebeling, Erich; Edzard, Dietz-Otto (2005). Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie. De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-018535-5., p. 364
  3. ↑ Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. p. 111
  4. ↑ Remler, Pat. (2000). Egyptian Mythology A to Z: A Young Reader's Companion. Facts On File. p. 1
  5. ↑ S. Quirke and A.J. Spencer, The British Museum Book of Ancient Egypt. London, The British Museum Press, 1992
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