The jackal-headed god Anubis is one of the most famous and mysterious deities of ancient Egypt, with numerous spiritual legends associated with him.
Facts About Anubis
The jackal-headed god Anubis has been known since the earliest stages of the Nile River civilization.
This deity was first mentioned during the First Dynasty, but upcoming research may reveal that he appeared even earlier. Interestingly, the name “Anubis” was not known until the Greeks arrived in Egypt. In ancient Egyptian, he was called Anpu or Inpu. This name shares a root with a term meaning “royal child.” Additionally, it is related to the word “inp,” meaning “to decay.” Anubis is also known as “Imy-ut” (“the one who is present at the embalming”) and “nub-tA-djser” (“lord of the sacred land”).
Anubis participating in the mummification process. (Public Domain).
A God Without a Temple
To date, archaeologists have never excavated a large temple dedicated solely to this deity. His “temple” consists of tombs and cemeteries. The main centers worshipping him were located in Asyut (Lycopolis) and Hardai (Cynopolis). His name appears in the massive and ancient mastaba tombs from the First Dynasty, and several temples dedicated to this god have been discovered. For instance, a temple and a burial ground for mummified dogs and jackals were found at Anubeion, a site located east of Saqqara. It seems that during the reign of the early dynasties, Anubis held greater importance than the god Osiris. This changed during the Middle Kingdom, but Anubis continued to be one of the most significant deities.
Anubis is one of the gods who could act against humans. He is relatively independent, sometimes assisting but at other times punishing people. One of his main roles is as the “Guardian of the Heart Weighing.” This relates to the belief that after death, individuals would meet the gods and have their hearts placed on a special scale. Scenes of heart weighing in the Book of the Dead feature Anubis – the god responsible for weighing and deciding whether a person deserves eternal life. Therefore, Anubis can determine the fate of the soul.
The Egyptian god Anubis (modern adaptation inspired by paintings in Middle Kingdom tombs) (GFDL).
Anubis is often depicted as a jackal or sometimes as a black man, a color associated with isolation and rebirth. Anubis has a female counterpart named Anput and a daughter, the serpent goddess Kebechet. He is also associated with the god Upuaut (Wepwawet), another deity with canine features.
Anubis is also the patron of lost souls, including orphaned children. In the Greek era, he was connected with the god Hermes. The Greeks created a hybrid deity called Hermanubis. They decided to combine Hermes, the messenger of the gods, with Anubis, the god who guides the dead to the gods. Over time, in the eyes of the Romans, Hermanubis became associated with Herpokrates – a popular god among alchemists and philosophers during the Renaissance.
Statue of Hermanubis, a hybrid god between Anubis and the Greek god Hermes (Vatican Museum) (CC BY-SA 3.0).
To this day, the most famous shrine of Anubis ever found is in the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62). It is currently located in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo (JE61444). It was found behind an unpartitioned entrance leading to the “storage room.” The shrine is located near a sealed coffin containing jars inside.
Guardian of the Dead
Anubis’s primary roles are mummification, guiding souls, and protecting tombs. According to the Osiris legend, he assisted Isis in embalming her husband. In this story, the priests involved in the mummification process wore jackal masks. Furthermore, legend states that when Osiris was killed by Set, his organs became gifts for Anubis. This gave rise to the tradition of dedicating certain body parts of the deceased to him. Real jackals would dig up shallow graves to feed on the corpses. Thus, the ancient Egyptians made Anubis the protector of cemeteries and the god of mummification, turning negative forces into positive ones.
Anubis would also punish grave robbers – one of the gravest crimes in ancient Egypt. For those who respected the deceased, Anubis would protect them and grant them a peaceful and happy life in the afterlife.
Anubis is frequently depicted in funerary scenes, where he is involved in the mummification process or sitting atop a tomb to protect it. In fact, during the mummification process, a priest would wear a mask and dress like Anubis to perform the rituals. During the ceremony, the heart-weighing process was reenacted, demonstrating that Anubis would determine whether the deceased was worthy of living in the afterlife (often referred to as Duat). In the past, it was believed that humans had no choice in their fate, but they hoped that the jackal god would permit them to enter the afterlife and enjoy it forever.
Statue of Anubis. (CC BY 2.0).
According to Geraldine Pinch: “Anubis is the guardian of all magical mysteries. In the Jumilhac Papyrus, he appears as a leader of Horus’s armed forces. His brutality corresponds with the cruelty of Seth. In contemporary magical texts, Anubis is named “Lord of Bau.” The entire battalion of demons is under his command. In Roman magical scrolls, Anubis plays a central role in causing disasters. Benevolent gods in temples are rarely recognized among the brutal male and female deities they encounter in daily magic. (…) A tale in the Jumilhac Papyrus (circa 300 BC) explains the practice by relating how Seth once transformed himself into a leopard after attacking Osiris’s body. Anubis caught and named the leopard, creating spots on its body. The jackal god commanded that the leopard’s skin should be worn by priests to commemorate the victory over Seth.”
Jumilhac Papyrus. (CC BY-SA 3.0).
For centuries, it has been believed that grave robbers would be punished by Anubis as he is the guardian of the dead. Furthermore, it is believed that good people would also be protected by him, and their eternal life would be peaceful and happy under his care.
An Increasing Awareness of the Jackal God
Anubis has gained more powers and attributes from today’s popular culture. This mysterious deity has become a prominent character in books, video games, and movies throughout the 20th century and into the early 21st century. Modern artists often envision Anubis’s powers as something more sinister than what the ancient Egyptians portrayed. Anubis’s notorious reputation has been shaped by fear and modern entertainment values.
In the past, it was believed that humans had no choice in their fate, but they hoped that the jackal god would allow them to enter the afterlife and enjoy it forever.
The Jackal Tombs
With his significant role in determining whether a mortal soul achieves eternal life, Anubis is worshipped throughout the land. However, unlike other gods and goddesses, most temples dedicated to Anubis appear in the form of tombs and cemeteries.
Not all of these tombs and cemeteries contain human remains. During the first dynasty of ancient Egypt, it was believed that sacred animals were manifestations of the gods they represented. This belief led to the creation of the “dog tomb” system, an underground network housing nearly eight million mummified dogs, including wild dogs and foxes, to honor the god of the dead.
Many of the canine remains in this tomb are from puppies, likely killed within hours of birth. Older dogs were more elaborately prepared, often mummified and placed in wooden coffins, and it is likely that they were donated by wealthy Egyptians. These dogs were offered to Anubis in the hope that the god would support the souls in the afterlife.
Today, although we know quite a bit about Anubis, some aspects remain a mystery. However, one thing is certain: Anubis, the Egyptian god associated with wild dogs, played a central role in alleviating the ancient Egyptians’ natural anxieties and passions regarding what happens after we take our last breath.
