Baboon gods had existed in Egypt from before written history. Hedjwer was depicted on a first dynasty ivory label and possibly on the Narmer Palette. Baboons were common as gifts in graves from the earliest times and in dynasty three a white baboon may have represented the royal ancestors in a depiction together with king Djoser.
During the Old Kingdom the virility god Babi ("bull of the baboons") appeared for the first time and he stood for male dominance and also had a violent temper and could kill on sight. On his menu was human entrails. People protect themselves against him by spells but also made curses on others where Babi was the supposed executer. Funeral texts helped the dead to get his power in the afterlife. Later baboons were symbols of Thoth and his character attracted kings who through worshipping hoped they would gain a suitable personality of authority, manly strength and wit.
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