India, July 24 -- The baboon is not a likeable animal in most African cultures today. That is mainly because they destroy crops. However, there was one culture on the African continent that not only venerated these primates but also deified them. Scientists now think they know the reason why.

According to new research from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, UK, the ancient Egyptian god Thoth, the deity of wisdom, writing, magic, and the moon is often represented as a sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) and sacred baboon (Papio hamadryas).

While the reasons suggested for the god being depicted as an ibis are its physical traits especially its curved, crescent-moon shaped beak and its black-and-white pied colouration, the baboon...