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ANDREAS SCHWAB

LMU Munich

Greek name of several CITIES in Upper and Lower EGYPT, meaning “House of Wadjet” (Eg. Pr‐W˒͗d&c.macrbl;t). The name Buto appears frequently in Book 2 of the Histories and, with one exception (2.75), always refers to the ancient city, into which the twin cities P and Dp merged. Located in the sixth nome (νομός, administrative district) of Lower Egypt, in the northwestern DELTA, its ruins lie at Tell el‐Fara‘in. Herodotus’ claim (2.59.3) that the FESTIVAL at Buto was held in honor of LETO (= Wadjet) might reflect her prominence in the festival of HORUS. The ORACLE of Leto at Buto, the most‐honored oracle in Egypt according to Herodotus (2.83), plays a major role in the historical narrative: it is consulted by the pharaohs PHEROS (2.111.2), MYCERINUS (2.133.1–3), PSAMMETICHUS I (2.152.3), and by the Persian king CAMBYSES (II) (3.64.4). Herodotus gives a detailed account of Buto and its temples of Leto, APOLLO, and ARTEMIS (2.155–56). He also reports (2.67) that the bodies of field mice and hawks are embalmed and taken to Buto.

SEE ALSO: Mummification; Temples and Sanctuaries