If you're fascinated by ancient Egyptian mythology, you've likely come across Anubis, the enigmatic god with the head of a jackal. Anubis, also known as Anpu, is one of the most recognisable deities in Egyptian mythology. This powerful Egyptian god played an important role in the beliefs and rituals surrounding death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. But what makes Anubis so intriguing?
Anubis: God of Mummification and the Afterlife
Anubis is the god of mummification and the afterlife. He presides over the embalming process and the rituals associated with the dead.
The Story of Anubis
The story of Anubis is deeply rooted in ancient Egyptian lore. He is the son of Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and Nephthys, the goddess of mourning. However, some myths suggest that his mother is Isis, the goddess of magic and healing.
Anubis is often depicted with the head of a jackal, an animal associated with cemeteries and death. The ancient Egyptians observed jackals prowling around graves, which likely inspired this connection. Anubis is sometimes shown holding an ankh, the symbol of life, and a flail, representing his authority.
Anubis is typically portrayed with black skin, symbolising the colour of mummified flesh and the fertile soil of the Nile, both of which represent regeneration and rebirth.
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The myths and legends surrounding Anubis offer a glimpse into his essential role in the afterlife and his interactions with other deities.
The "Weighing of the Heart" Ceremony
One of Anubis' most important roles was in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony. In this ritual, the heart of the deceased was weighed against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess of truth and justice. Anubis would oversee this process, ensuring that the scales were balanced correctly. If the heart was lighter than the feather, the soul could proceed to the afterlife. Anubis' presence guarantees that the judgement is fair and just.
The "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony
Anubis and the Myth of Osiris
Anubis played a key role in the myth of Osiris. According to legend, Osiris was murdered by his brother Seth, who dismembered his body and scattered the pieces across Egypt.
Legends of the "Curse of Anubis"
There are various legends about the "Curse of Anubis." One such tale involves grave robbers who disturb a tomb guarded by Anubis.
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The Birth of Anubis
A lesser-known myth explains the birth of Anubis. It is said that Anubis was born from the union of Nephthys and Osiris, but Nephthys, fearing the wrath of her husband Seth, abandoned the baby in the wilderness. Isis, the wife of Osiris, discovered the child and raised him as her own.
Understanding Anubis' relationships and family connections provides a deeper insight into his role and significance within Egyptian mythology.
Anubis' Family
- Parents: Anubis is commonly believed to be the son of Osiris, the god of the afterlife, and Nephthys, the goddess of mourning. It is also speculated that Seth is Anubis’ father.
- Wife: In some myths, Anubis is said to have a wife named Anput, who shares his jackal-headed appearance. Anubis' wife name is Anput (or Input), a lesser-known goddess in the Egyptian pantheon. Like her husband, she is associated with the afterlife, mummification, and the protection of the dead. Anput is usually depicted as a woman with a jackal or a jackal-headed human, similar to Anubis' form.
- Daughter: Anubis and Anput are believed to have a daughter, Kebechet (or Qebehsenuef), who is also associated with the afterlife. Kebechet is typically represented as a snake or a snake-headed woman and is considered the goddess of purification, providing refreshing, purifying waters to the souls of the deceased during their journey to the afterlife.
Anubis' family relationships reflect the interconnected nature of ancient Egyptian gods, with each member playing a complementary role in the realm of the afterlife.
Anubis as a Protector and Guide
Anubis is a powerful protector of the dead. He ensures that the deceased are safe from harm and their bodies are preserved for the journey to the afterlife. Anubis guides souls to the afterlife, helping them navigate the treacherous journey through the underworld.
Worship and Temples of Anubis
Anubis was a prominent figure in ancient Egyptian worship, revered for his role as the guardian of the dead and the overseer of mummification. Temples dedicated to Anubis were often located near necropolises, reinforcing his association with burial sites and the protection of the deceased. One of the most notable temples dedicated to Anubis was in the ancient city of Cynopolis, which means "City of the Dog," highlighting his strong connection to the canine form. Anubis was worshiped all over Egypt, and his cult center was in Cynopolis, located in the 17th nome (province) of Upper Egypt.
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Within these temples, priests performed rituals to invoke Anubis' protection for the dead, ensuring safe passage to the afterlife.
Anubis' Sacred Animal
The jackal is Anubis' sacred animal, symbolising his connection to death and the afterlife. The canid which Anubis was modeled upon has frequently been stated to have been the golden jackal, though the African variant of this animal present in Egypt was reclassified in 2015 as a separate species now known as the African wolf, which was found to be more closely related to wolves and coyotes than to the jackal. Some authors have opined that Anubis is more probably modeled after a fox or Ethiopian wolf. Nevertheless, ancient Greek texts about Anubis consistently refer to the deity as having the head of a dog rather than that of any wild canid, and there is still uncertainty as to what species represents Anubis.
Anubis' Temples and Statues
Several temples and statues were dedicated to Anubis throughout Egypt. A shrine for Anubis was discovered in King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Aside from the Anubis statue discovered in King Tut’s tomb, his representation can be found frequently in ancient Egyptian art. One of the most famous statues of Anubis is the black granite statue found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
In the Valley of the Kings, an image of Anubis in his role as “Jackal Ruler of the Bows” was often used to seal tombs. The nine bows represented all the enemies of Egypt, and it was believed that Anubis had defeated every one of them. In tomb paintings and murals, Anubis is often shown accompanying the deceased or presiding over the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony, showcasing his importance in the soul's journey through the underworld. Statues of Anubis, often in the form of a jackal or a jackal-headed human, were placed in and around tombs and mortuary temples to serve as guardians against potential physical and spiritual threats.
The Anubis Shrine was part of the burial equipment of the 18th Dynasty pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose tomb in the Valley of the Kings was discovered almost intact in 1922 by Egyptologists led by Howard Carter. The Anubis Shrine was found behind the unwalled entrance which led from the burial Chamber to the Treasury. The shrine, with a figure of the god Anubis on top, was facing towards the west. Behind it was the large canopic shrine containing the king's canopic chest and jars. During the work in the burial chamber, the entrance to the Treasury (called the Store Room by Carter in his diaries) was blocked with wooden boards, so that the work would not damage the objects in the Store Room. The statue of Anubis, depicted in animal form as a recumbent jackal, is attached to the roof of the shrine. The statue is made of wood, covered with black paint. The insides of the ears, eyebrows, rims of the eyes, collar, and the band knotted around the neck are worked in gold leaf. The eyes are inlaid in gold; the whites of the eyes are made from calcite and the pupils from obsidian. The claws are made of silver.
A very similar Anubis statue was found in the tomb of the pharaoh Horemheb (KV57). Made of cedar, the jackal once had inlaid eyes which are now missing, and was painted black with a gilded plaster collar. The body and paw of another jackal were also found, along with two fragmentary jackal heads.
The Anubis statue was wrapped in a linen shirt which was from the seventh regnal year of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, according to an ink inscription on it. Underneath was a very fine linen gauze tied at the front of the neck. The statue was separated from the roof of the shrine on 25 October 1926 so that it could be transported through the burial chamber. The shrine on its sledge and the jackal were moved to the laboratory two days later on 27 October.
The wood was noted to have shrunk over the intervening millennia, which caused the gilded surface to bulge outwards.
The shrine on which the statue sits is trapezoidal. In his records, Howard Carter called it a pylon because of its resemblance to the monumental temple gateways. Like the jackal, the shrine is also made of wood, with a layer of plaster covered with gold leaf. The top edge has an out-curving cavetto cornice with torus molding. The sides are decorated with djed pillars, a symbol of endurance which is linked closely with the god Osiris and tyet-knots, which can stand for life, like the ankh, and is a symbol of the goddess Isis. A design of recessed niches decorates the lower edge.
Inscriptions run horizontally along the upper edge and vertically along the sides on all faces of the shrine. The inscriptions invoke two manifestations of Anubis: Imiut (Jmj wt - "He who is in his wrappings") and Khenti-Seh-netjer (Ḫntj-sḥ-nṯr - "The first of the god's hall").
Inside the shrine are four small trays and a large compartment.
The shrine is mounted on a sledge-shaped palanquin which has two carrying poles projecting from the front and back. It is therefore presumed that the Anubis shrine was used in the funerary procession of the Pharaoh before being placed in front of the canopic chest in the Treasury.
This location and the orientation of the Anubis shrine towards the west, the direction of the afterlife in Ancient Egyptian belief, show the role of the god Anubis as guardian of the necropolis.
This is made clear by a small brick of unfired clay, known as a magic brick, found at the entrance to the Store Room, in front of the shrine. This was the fifth magic brick found in Tutankhamun's tomb.
The statue of the jackal lying on the shrine is in the same posture and form as one hieroglyph (Gardiner list: E16) for Anubis.
Anubis' Depiction and Attributes
Anubis is traditionally depicted as a male deity. Anubis is often associated with the jackal, an animal native to Egypt and commonly seen around burial sites. Anubis is typically portrayed with black skin, which symbolises the colour of mummified flesh and the fertile soil of the Nile.
He attended the weighing scale during the "Weighing of the Heart", in which it was determined whether a soul would be allowed to enter the realm of the dead. Anubis was depicted in black, a color that symbolized regeneration, life, the soil of the Nile River, and the discoloration of the corpse after embalming.
In ancient Egyptian art, Anubis is often depicted holding specific items that symbolize his roles and responsibilities.
The "was" scepter (𓏭) is a long staff with a forked base and a stylized animal head at the top, typically that of a canine. This powerful symbol represents dominion, power, and authority, signifying Anubis' status as a guardian and protector of the dead.
The "ankh" (☥) is a well-known ancient Egyptian symbol that resembles a cross with a loop at the top.
Anubis is often depicted wearing a ribbon and holding a nḫ3ḫ3 "flail" in the crook of his arm.
Another of Anubis's attributes was the jmy-wt or imiut fetish, named for his role in embalming.
In funerary contexts, Anubis is shown either attending to a deceased person's mummy or sitting atop a tomb protecting it.
Anubis' Powers and Responsibilities
Anubis possessed several significant powers, including protection of the dead, guiding souls to the afterlife, and overseeing the judgement process in the "Weighing of the Heart" ceremony.
As the ruler of the underworld, Anubis was also tasked with maintaining order, protecting the dead from malevolent forces, and ensuring the proper balance between the worlds of the living and the dead.
As jmy-wt (Imiut or the Imiut fetish) "He who is in the place of embalming", Anubis was associated with mummification. In the Osiris myth, Anubis helped Isis to embalm Osiris.
One of his many roles surrounding the dead included the Guardian of Scales where he dictated the fate of souls. As depicted in the Book of the Dead, Anubis weighs the decedent’s heart against the weight of a feather. The feather represents “Ma’at” or truth.
Anubis held the important role of overseeing the embalming and mummification of the dead. It was essential to the ancient Egyptian belief in the afterlife. Mummification was intended to preserve the body, allowing the soul, or "ka", to recognize and reunite with it in the afterlife. Anubis was believed to oversee and guide the embalmers during the mummification process. Several rituals were performed to honor Anubis during the mummification process.
One such ritual was the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony, which involved a priest wearing an Anubis mask and touching the mouth of the mummy or statue with special tools. This ritual was believed to restore the deceased's ability to speak, breathe, eat, and drink in the afterlife. The daughter of Anubis (Kebechet), is frequently seen as his assistant in the mummification process of the dead.
As the Egyptian god responsible for protecting the dead, many prayers to Anubis were carved into their tombs and offerings were made to him to ensure the safety of the deceased's remains.
Anubis in Different Eras
Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Anubis assumed different roles in various contexts. Depicted as a protector of graves as early as the First Dynasty (c. 3100 - c. 2890 BC), Anubis was also an embalmer. By the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055-1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris in his role as lord of the underworld. Anubis' role shifted from being the primary god of the dead to a subordinate position to Osiris. Despite the shift in their roles, Anubis and Osiris maintained a cooperative and complementary relationship in the afterlife.
In the Old Kingdom, Anubis was the most important god of the dead.
In later periods, particularly during the Ptolemaic era, Anubis was sometimes described as the son of Isis and Serapis, a Hellenized form of Osiris designed to appeal to Egypt's growing Greek population.
In the Ptolemaic period (350-30 BC), when Egypt became a Hellenistic kingdom ruled by Greek pharaohs, Anubis was merged with the Greek god Hermes, becoming Hermanubis. The two gods were considered similar because they both guided souls to the afterlife.
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Anubis and Wepwawet
Anubis is associated with Wepwawet, another Egyptian god portrayed with a dog's head or in canine form, but with grey or white fur. Historians assume that the two figures were eventually combined.
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