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Mr. Ibis is one of the Old Gods, and a supporting character in American Gods. He runs Ibis and Jacquel Funeral Parlor with his partner, Mr. Jacquel.
Significance in Narrative
Coming to America, 1721
- Main article: Chapter Four
Mr. Ibis writes in his journal about how many of the early immigrants to America were indentured servants and deported criminals. He recounts the tale of Essie Tregowan from Cornwall who was a con artist, thief, and prostitute and believed her good luck was from leaving a saucer of milk out for the piskies. She is eventually caught for her crimes and escapes hanging because she is pregnant and is transported to America instead.
In America, she marries the widowed father who bought her indenture, raising his daughter and her son and having another son together, all the while teaching them about the piskies and other myths of her old country. Eventually, her husband died, one of her sons killed the other and ran away, and she remained on the land with her daughter and grandchildren. One day, while she was shucking peas, "Cousin Jack" from the old world came to visit and she took his hand and passed away.
Physical Appearance
He is described as "a cranelike man with gold-rimmed spectacles" and is "well over six feet in height, with a cranelike stoop".
Significance in Mythology
Mr. Ibis is an incarnation of Thoth, the Ancient Egyptian God of writing, wisdom, and magic. He is also a God of the Underworld, in charge of the Scales of Judgement.