Iah (Ancient Egyptian: jꜥḥ) is a primeval lunar deity in ancient Egyptian religion. The word jꜥḥ simply means "Moon". Iah is among the first gods. Associated with Osiris and Thoth, he's later absorbed into the cult of moon god Khonsu.
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During the New Kingdom (16th - 11th century BCE), Iah is less prominent as other gods with lunar associations such as Thoth and Khonsu. Nonetheless, there is a functional relationship between them.
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Iah can be linked to either deity and more. His joint deific names include Iah-Djehuty, with Djehuty being an aspect of Thoth; Iah-Khonsu and Osiris-Iah. He's closely connected to the Egyptian God of Death and the Realm of the Dead, Osiris.
Iah is sometimes considered an adult version of Khonsu the child moon god, and gradually becomes intertwined with him. Khonsu is the god who plays senet with Thoth so primordial goddess Nut can give birth. One of her children is Osiris.
Iah continues to appear in amulets and occasional representations, resembling Khonsu with lunar symbols on his head and similar clothing. Like other Egyptian moon gods Iah keeps the passage of time.
Iah may wear the Atef crown of Osiris (white crown of Upper Egypt with ostrich feathers), topped by another symbol. While Khonsu's fertility powers govern the crescent moon, Iah transforms into Iah-Djehuty, representing the "god of the new moon".
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In this role, he embodies the lunar aspect of Thoth, Egyptian polymath god of wisdom, the moon, architecture, scribes and later alchemy. Moon phases are also used as fractional symbols in writing and appear in hieroglyphs.
Ancient Egyptians have two calendars. One's based on solar cycles. An earlier calendar is built upon the travels of the moon. The night and "Dark Earth" into which the moon seems to disappear relate to the realm of the dead. Invention of the lunar calendar is attributed to Iah.
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The Egyptian lunar calendar comprises twelve months, differing in length according to the duration of the full lunar cycle (29 - 30 days). Each lunar month starts with the new moon. The month begins on the first morning the waning crescent becomes invisible.
New Year’s Day is marked by the annual heliacal rising of the Dog Star Sothis (Sirius), the brightest star in the night sky. Ancient Egyptians notice the pre-dawn rise of the star Sirius always occurs a short time before the yearly flooding of the Nile it September.
In astrology and spirituality the new moon is a time to gather energy, take introspective journeys and tend to personal health. It brings a blessing of beginnings. It's a good time to clean and organize one's space.
Each lunar month hosts a different festival, which gives its name to the month. Since the lunar calendar is 10 - 11 days shorter than the solar a 13th month called Thoth is inserted every few years. Thus the lunar calendar calibrates with the agricultural seasons and feasts.
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Disappearance and rebirth of Iah relates him to Osiris, the god of the dead. Thoth has underworld links as the divine scribe who records results of the weighing of the heart of the recently deceased. Khonsu too has a chthonic aspect.
During the new moon the sun, moon and planet earth aligned so Earth's shadow covers the moon, and the moon seems to disappear. Because of the stronger force of gravity at this time, applied by the Sun, tides on Earth are especially high or low on new and full moons.
In contrast to new moon alignment, during the full moon, the sun, planet earth and moon are lined up with Earth in the middle and ecliptic longitudes of Sun and Moon differ by 180°. The lunar hemisphere facing Earth is fully lit by the Sun and appears as a circular disk.
In civilizations such as ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia the underworld is a place of death but also fertility. It may be home to vegetation gods who nourish plants from the deep earth. Although Iah is not well documented he's mentioned in historical literature.
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From the Papyrus of Ani (c. 1250 BCE)
"A spell to come forth by day and live after dying. Words spoken by the Osiris Ani: O One, bright as the moon-god Iah; O One, shining as Iah; This Osiris Ani comes forth among these your multitudes outside, bringing himself back as a shining one. He has opened the netherworld. Lo, the Osiris Osiris [sic] Ani comes forth by day, and does as he desires on earth among the living."
Chapter 2
"[A spell to] cross over into the land of Amentet by day. Words spoken by the Osiris Ani: Hermopolis is open; my head is sealed [by] Thoth. The eye of Horus is perfect; I have delivered the eye of Horus, and my ornament is glorious on the forehead of Ra, the father of the gods.
Osiris is the one who is in Amentet. Indeed, Osiris knows who is not there; I am not there. I am the moon-god Iah among the gods; I do not fail. Indeed, Horus stands; he reckons you among the gods."
Chapter 18
Amentet is an Egyptian goddess, friend of the dead and personification of the Land of the West, 'Amenti'. It's she who welcomes the deceased into the afterlife. She may occupy a tree near the entrance of the netherworld Duat, which is the first step to Aaru, or Paradise.
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