Anubis is the ancient Egyptian god who is most closely associated with death, the afterlife and the process of mummification. In ancient Egyptian religion he was depicted mainly as a dog or a man with a dog's head. Anubis played several important roles in ancient Egyptian mythology, including the protection of tombs; leading people to the afterlife and the Weighing of the Heart, an ancient Egyptian concept where your soul is judged. Anubis was one of the most popular deities in ancient Egypt, his cult center being at Sinopolis in Upper Egypt. In keeping with his popularity, he is often depicted in ancient Egyptian art. His most famous statue, the Shrine of Anubis, which was discovered in the tomb of the famous Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. Modern depictions of Anubis in popular culture tend to be inaccurate, depicting him as a satanic figure, while in ancient Egypt he was revered as a rational God. Here are 10 interesting facts about Anubis, including his history; myths; powers; worship and significance in ancient Egypt and depiction in popular culture.
№1. Anubis is depicted with the head of a dog and the body of a man.
As with many gods from the ancient world, there are several variants on the name Anubis, each indicating a different part of evolution. Before the arrival of the Greeks in Egypt in the 7th century B.C., the god we call Anubis today was actually called "Anpu" or "Inpu," which means "to decay," and symbolizes his early association with death. Anubis, then, is the Greek translation of the name. After the Greeks arrived in Egypt and began to influence the area, the Greek god Hermes, "Hermanibus," was also created in the composition of Anubis. Both in the original Egyptian form of Anubis and in the much later Greek-Egyptian composition he is depicted with a dog's head and a human body. For centuries this canine head was usually associated with a jackal. However, recent DNA evidence suggests that the wild canines in the area from which the ancient Egyptians may have drawn inspiration may have been wolf-like.
The ancient Egyptian god Anubis
The appearance of Anubis, his symbols
Anubis is the Greek pronunciation of the deity's name. Originally, in the days of early Egypt, Anubis was referred to as Inpu, which translated means "to decay or decompose." In addition, at the time of the arrival of the Greeks, Anubis became identified with Hermes, one of whose tasks was also to escort the souls of the dead to the realm of the dead.
Besides, the posthumous court was known even before Osiris was born, and Anubis, or more precisely Inpu, was mentioned even then as the sovereign judge of the underground scales. However, it is likely that Inpu could have been the predecessor of Anubis, or that Anubis later became a reincarnation of Inpu. Unfortunately, the legends are silent about this.
As for appearance, Anubis was always depicted as a creature with a human body and the black head of a jackal. Initially, historians questioned why the head was black, for in reality the heads of jackals are brown or grayish-red. However it was written off that black color is a symbol of death, and that is why the jackal's head was black.
As for the attributes of Anubis, practically he is depicted with a scepter or staff (Uas is the scepter of the gods, a symbol of well-being, health and happiness) in one hand, and an ankh in the other hand. But the most important symbol of the deity is his sacred animal, the jackal.
By the way, in the city of Kinopolis (by the way, don't you find the consonance with kinokephalos?), which was the center of Anubis worship, the killing of dogs was punishable by death. And if one of the foreigners killed a dog - it could be an occasion for war, between the cities. It's safe to say that dogs meant as much to Anubis and his followers as cats to Bastet.
№2. His most important role was that of "weighing the heart."
Anubis played several roles in ancient Egyptian mythology. He was the protector of graves and cemeteries. Because the dead were usually buried on the west bank of the Nile, Anubis was called hent-imentu, meaning "the foremost of the western inhabitants." Anubis was associated with mummification, because of which he was called jmy-wt, meaning "he who is in the place of embalming." Anubis was most prominently associated with the afterlife. It is here that much of the most common mythology associated with the role of Anubis is touched upon. Anubis guided people from the world of the living to the afterlife. His most famous role, however, was in the Weighing of the Heart. The ancient Egyptians believed that your journey through the underworld would take you to the "Hall of Maath," where your heart would be measured on a scale opposite to Maath's "pen of truth." Anubis will weigh the heart of a dead person. If the heart is weighed lightly, the soul will be carried into life after death; however, if it is heavier, the Egyptian demoness Ammut will swallow it, and this will be the end of the person's afterlife.
Anubis at the Weighing of the Heart procedure
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Speaking of which, the priests who performed the mummification always wore jackal masks. It was believed that during the procedure, one of them was inhabited by Anubis, who was in charge of the embalming process. That is why the Egyptians achieved great skill in this matter.
In addition, in the days of early Egypt it was believed that Anubis was the sole ruler of the underworld, and later he himself personally handed over the reins to Osiris. Nevertheless, Anubis himself still had an important and enviable role in the underworld. Not only did he ferry the souls of the dead and help them to get to court, but he also put their hearts on the scales of justice.
Anubis was also considered the patron saint of healers and magicians. In this respect his importance and influence was no less than that of Bastet, whose direct duty was to patronize the sick. As for Anubis, it was often the case that illness could not be cured by traditional methods. It was then that Anubis was summoned, as well as mysterious magicians and healers, who banished the disease by all available means and hoaxes.
This is why Anubis was often equated with Horus, especially in late Egyptian times. Except that Horus was considered the supreme god of the world of the living, and Anubis was considered the supreme god of the world of the dead, until Osiris took over that position. And this continued until the fall of the great Egyptian civilization.
№3. Anubis was combined with the Greek god Hermes to create Hermanubis.
In some versions of Egyptian mythology, the god Hathor guided souls to the afterlife. However, because of his close association with death and the process by which souls were judged and given access to the afterlife, Anubis began to gain a reputation, in later Egyptian mythology, as the guide of souls. Hermes was a god in ancient Greek religion and mythology, fulfilling several roles, including being the conduit of souls to the underworld. Although Anubis was not a messenger god or a trickster like Hermes, they do share a role in guiding souls into the underworld. This explains the merger of Hermes and Anubis. The fusion occurred after contact with the Greeks and led to the creation of the elaborate figure of Hermanubis. He is depicted with a human body and the head of a dog, like Anubis, and carrying a sacred staff called a caduceus, like Hermes. Hermanubis was a popular deity during the period of Roman domination of Egypt.
Hermanubis
Birth of Anubis.
The mere fact of the birth of Anubis causes endless disputes among historians and scholars of mythology. The fact is that it is still unknown who the real father of the deity is. Some say that since Anubis was so mysterious and enigmatic, and most importantly - is closely associated with the dark forces and the underworld, his father is Seth.
However, most sources state that Anubis is the son of Osiris. By the way, this legend is more in line with the history of ancient Egypt, and more importantly, it answers many questions, including the main question - why did Seth dislike Osiris so much that he not only killed him, but chopped him up into many pieces and scattered him all over Egypt.
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Why didn't Seth kill Anubis as the spawn of Osiris, whom he hated?
According to one legend, Neftis managed to pass Anubis off as Seth's son. But based on other legends, it's more likely that Seth simply didn't dare kill the innocent child. After all, he had a grudge against Osiris, while Anubis did him no harm.
So, as we know, the wife of Osiris was the beautiful Isis, who loved her husband until she couldn't remember what she'd done more than once, not only in word, but also in deed. However the mother of Anubis is 100% certain to be Isis's sister, Neftis. And here is how it was.
One day it happened that Nephthida fell in love with Osiris. And it is not surprising, because Osiris was a great, mighty and beautiful ruler of Egypt, who was respected and admired by everyone, while Seth caused nothing but evil to people and gods. One day Neftide was fed up with it all and decided to set her sights on her sister's beloved husband.
At this point, the versions of the legend also differ. One of them says that Osiris voluntarily agreed to "give time" to his wife's sister. According to another legend, Osiris knew how much Isis loved him and agreed to share his bed only with her. However, the cunning Neftis took the form of Isis and still made her way into bed with the great Osiris. From this connection Anubis was born.
If the legends are to be believed, Seth learned of his wife's infidelity and was not just furious, he was furious. In his feelings, he killed Osiris and later cut his body into many pieces and scattered it all over Egypt. Realizing what would threaten her son, and her, for infidelity, Neftida abandoned the little god in the reedy thickets. He is later found by Isis, who searches for the remains of Osiris. And in spite of her husband's infidelity, she gets to have feelings for her nephew and raises him as her own child.
Subsequently, it is Anubis will help Isis resurrect Osiris, for the first time using the technique of embalming, for the one night in which she will manage to conceive a child who was destined to become Horus, to adopt the power of the god Ra, to overthrow the cruel and insane Seth and bring order and peace to Egypt. A little ahead and say that Horus succeeded, but that's another story.
By the way, there is another legend of the origin of Anubis. Many stories and mythologies of different peoples mention people with the heads of dogs. They were called the Cynocephals, and according to this legend, Anubis was a descendant of an ancient lineage of this tribe. This explains his jackal head, at least in part.
№4. His wife is Apnut, and his daughter is Kebechet.
In many forms of ancient mythology, the origins of certain figures are obscured or otherwise altered between different descriptions of the stories, and Anubis is no different in this respect. Different versions give Anubis different origins, which in turn may lead to different interpretations of his general position and location in the ancient Egyptian pantheon. The Egyptian Gods and Goddesses Ra, Hesat, Bastet, Nephthys and Osiris are all offered in various combinations as parents of Anubis. The differences arise depending on whose account is read. In addition, later Greek records, such as Plutarch's history, differ from the classical Egyptian ones. However, regardless of his origins, Anubis' association with death and the underworld remains relatively constant, Anupus' wife is Anput, goddess of funerals and mummification. Their daughter is the serpent goddess Kebechet, goddess of purification.
№5. Anubis resurrected the body of Osiris in myth.
The myth of Osiris is the most influential in the history of ancient Egyptian mythology. Osiris was the son of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nuta. At the beginning of the myth he rules Egypt, and there is order in the kingdom. However, he is killed by his brother Seth, who is associated with violence and chaos. Osiris' wife, Isis, resurrects her husband's body and bears with him a son named Horus. When Horus becomes an adult, Horus challenges Seth to the throne of Egypt. The conflict ends in Horus' triumph; leading to the restoration of order in Egypt. Anubis plays a role in the myth as an ally of Osiris. In fact, according to the myth, he is the son of Osiris and his daughter-in-law Nephthys. When Osiris dies, it is Anubis who helps to resurrect his body. Because of this, Anubis became the patron saint of embalmers. Apart from this myth, Anubis does not appear often in ancient Egyptian mythology. Moreover, because he is associated with death, he is often the figure in the myths that looms larger at the end of the story than the one involved everywhere else.
Anubis visits the mummy of Osiris
Greco-Roman faith.
When the cults of Isis and Serapis became active in the Roman Empire, the perception of the jackal-headed deity of ancient Egypt changed slightly. The Greeks and Romans began to consider him a servant of the supreme gods, comparing the god of the dead to Hermes. In those days it was believed that he patronized anesthesiologists, psychologists and psychiatrists. This view emerged after attributing additional qualities to Anubis. He was also thought to be able to show the right path to the lost, to lead him out of the labyrinth.
№6. His cult center was Sinopolis in Upper Egypt.
Although he did not appear in many myths, Anubis was an extremely popular God in ancient Egypt. Because the ancient Egyptian paid much attention to death, Anubis gathered his own group of followers dedicated in particular to worshiping him. Since it was Anubis who judged in the afterlife, it was probably believed that worshiping him would lead to the deceased's body being respected after death and his soul being protected in the afterlife. When Anubis prepared the mummy of Osiris in myth, he became the patron of embalmers. In addition, wooden masks made to remind Anubis were used by priests in rituals. Amulets of the god were also common. Sinopolis (Greek for "city of the dog") in Upper Egypt was home to the cult of Anubis. However, there were shrines in ancient Egypt and he was worshipped throughout the country. When the Greeks gained influence in the region, Hermanubis, a fusion of Anubis and the Greek god Hermes, was also widely worshipped.
Interesting facts about Anubis
Anubis possesses the head of a wolf
For centuries it was believed that Anubis possessed the head of a jackal, because this animal was very common in the territory of ancient Egypt. Moreover, jackals were frequent guests at cemeteries, which influenced the myth of Anubis. However, recent archaeological research and DNA-examinations suggest otherwise. The fact is that scientists managed to get hold of the animal fangs used on one of Anubis' masks. And the examination showed that with a high degree of probability the fangs were those of a wolf.
Anubis' most important position
In our article we have described all the tasks of Anubis for which he was responsible. However, his most important "job" was his participation in the posthumous trial. Legend has it that only Anubis alone had access to the hearts of men and could use them on the scales of justice.
Anubis is the Greek Hermes.
№7. Anubis is often represented in ancient Egyptian art.
Anubis was one of the most frequently represented deities in ancient Egyptian art and later in Greco-Egyptian art. Works of art depicting Anubis can be found throughout the history of ancient Egypt. He is the earliest god depicted on tomb walls and called to protect the dead. In paintings Anubis is usually shown leading mummification and funerals or standing with the other gods at the Weighing of the Heart of the Soul in the Hall of the Two Truths in the afterlife. A popular image shows him kneeling with the head of a dog holding a golden scales that are used to weigh the heart. Art depicting or relating to Anubis can be found in museums all over the world. A statue of Anubis with a dog's head and a long wig can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, while a bronze figure of Anubis in bracelets can be seen at the British Museum in London. The statue of Hermanubis, meanwhile, can be found in the Vatican Museums at the Vatican.
The judgment of Anubis
We have already mentioned several times the judgment that was feared and expected by all the Egyptians of the ancient world. But the work of Anubis began long before the judgment. Generally, the Egyptians believed that man has an immortal part of the soul, called Ka. It was this part that Anubis would meet when a person died. The task of the jackal-headed guard was to bring Ka safely to the judgment of Osiris. And the journey was not a short one, and by no means a safe one.
The trial itself was a formidable and grandiose spectacle. It took place in a great hall in the underworld. In the middle of this hall was a throne on which Osiris himself was seated, and he was surrounded at this moment by about fifty different gods. And beside Osiris was a terrible creature, a lion, with the head of a crocodile, whose name was Amath.
In front of Osiris was an exquisite, silver scale. At this moment, Anubis would take the heart of the deceased and carry it to the side of the scales to place it on one of the bowls. The entire process takes place in strict silence. Naturally, the bowl of the scale on which the heart was placed is tilted. At that moment, Thoth comes to the bowl. He holds the feather of the headdress of Maat, the Goddess of Truth, and it is to be placed upon the other side of the scale.
This was the scale that decided the fate of the dead man. If he led a pious and righteous life, the scales would either balance, or the feather would exceed the weight of the heart. And if, on the contrary, the heart outweighed the heart, the negligent man was eaten by Amat. This was how each person's personal judgment took place. It was at this trial that man's fate in the afterlife was decided. Either he would go to heaven and enjoy all the pleasures of existence after death, or he would be eaten by a horrible monster.
№8. Anubis guarded Tutankhamun's tomb in his animal form.
When the famous discovery of the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was made, a temple of Anubis was found among the tombs. A statue of Anubis, depicted entirely in the shape of an animal, was attached to the roof of the temple. It squatted at the entrance. This was because one of the roles of Anubis in ancient Egyptian mythology was to guard the spirits of the dead in the afterlife and to punish mortals who violated the sacred tomb. The jackal-shaped figure of Anubis, made of wood, is just over 3 feet long. It is skillfully carved to show the taut muscles of the canine deity. The life-size statue has gilded ears, collar and scarf. It is also covered with black paint because black was the symbolic color of Anubis because it represented death and decay. The temple of Anubis is one of the outstanding objects of Tutankhamun's tomb. It is currently on display in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Anubis on the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun
Stylistics, colors and locations
The Anubis tattoo is versatile, and can be anywhere - on the leg, arm, back, neck or chest. It all depends on the size and additional elements of the drawing, as well as the desire to show or hide it. The meaning and significance does not depend on the place of application, as well as the gender of the owner of the tattoo.
As for the style, the traditional is considered the maximum exposure to ancient Egyptian. But not everyone likes minimalism, so more often the style is "pseudo-Egyptian", more like South American organics or bio-organics, sometimes in combination with Chicano. If you look closely at the photos of Anubis tattoos in the catalogs, you can find options, seasoned in blackwork, new-school, thrash, chorus and even oriental or neo-tadition. Very good options are obtained by combining several schools.
When making your final choice, consider the recommended colors for Anubis tattoos:
- Black - the classic of the genre, a symbol of traditionalism, and in this case also a connection with the beyond
- White - as standard and easily combined with others, which is exactly what you can't do without if Anubis is represented as a mummy in bandages.
- Green - if the Guardian of the Boundary between the worlds can't do without it, because Life and Death are always near each other.
Ancient Egyptian assistant to the lord of the underworld is not a cartoon character at all. But it is not necessary to consider him only as a gloomy figure. Rather, it is a reminder of the diversity of our existence and the opportunity to experience its many facets.
№9. Anubis has the ability to curse those who disturb the dead.
Because Anubis is associated with death and carries the scales on which the heart is weighed in assessing a person's soul, any "supernatural abilities" associated with him are implied rather than explicit. As the protector of the tombs that guarded the body after death, Anubis had the power to cast curses on others, protecting the dead. When Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered, several people who entered the tomb died. This led to a lot of talk about the Curse of Tutankhamun. It is interesting to note that it was Anubis who guarded the pharaoh's tomb. Like Hades in Greek mythology, Anubis is associated with evil deadly powers. The central role Anubis plays in Egyptian conceptions of death, moral judgment, and the afterlife makes him an influential figure in Egyptian mythology.
The Story of the God Anubis, Patron of the Realm of the Dead
The culture of ancient Egypt is truly unique, it is capable of fascinating researchers and simply creative individuals. Admit, dear readers, have you ever dreamed to dive into amazing worlds, where pharaohs ruled, almost at every step met different deities, worlds, which are impossible to imagine without sarcophagi, mummies, pyramids and tombs?
One of the patrons of the kingdom of the dead, a kind of conductor to the chambers of the underworld, the curator of the necropolises was the god Anubis. He enjoyed unprecedented popularity among the inhabitants of the land of deserts and the deluge of Nile, and even today arouses genuine interest. Today we will tell you what the patron of the dead looked like, who were his parents, how his cult developed.
Description of the god
Most often Anubis is described as an anthropomorph: he has a human body, a black head of a jackal or dog. Such a vision of the deity is not accidental: the thing is that the Egyptians noticed these very animals prowling around the cemeteries, which allowed them to correlate them with the afterlife.
Usually Anubis is depicted half-turned, and sometimes he turns into a wild wolf or jackal. In such depictions, he can be seen completely black, lying on a chest shaped like a naos (as the Egyptian temples called rooms with statues of the gods).
The ancient Egyptians highly valued all the talents and qualities of this deity, they believed that he had great power over their physical body and over the soul after they died. It is generally believed that it was Anubis who invented embalming, mummification, he weighed the hearts of dead souls, patronized anesthesiologists, and was one of the oldest gods.
Parents of the patron of the realm of the dead
In his work "On Isis and Osiris," Plutarch says that Anubis is the son of Osiris and Neptis, abandoned but later found by Isis. We suggest that we consider this version of Anubis' appearance in more detail!
In general, the essence of Neftis is virtually undiscovered in ancient Greek religious literature. It is known that it was possible to see her at funeral rites, mysteries, according to beliefs she was the author of mournful texts, she was often called the Queen of Scrolls.
Neftis was the sister of Isis and the lawful wife of Seth, the god of war, fury, storms and death. She was secretly in love with Osiris and succeeded for a long time in hiding her feelings, but one day her feminine heart failed: she took the form of Osiris' wife to seduce him. The result of this affair was the appearance of Anubis.
Of course, his mother was afraid of being found guilty of treason, so she abandoned her newborn child in the reeds, thus condemning him to certain death. But, thanks to the will of the heavens, or simply to good fortune, Isis found the child - and welcomed him into her family. It was in this way that Anubis was reunited with his birth father, albeit not in the most ordinary way.
There are other versions of the appearance of Anubis. For example, some researchers believe that in fact his father was Seth himself.
God Seth.
There is another theory that explains why Anubis has the appearance of a dog. Researchers believe that it is all about descent from the kinocephalus lineage.
It is enough to open a geographical map of the ancient world to see that in the territory of the Scandinavian countries, as well as in the lands that today belong to India, Libya and Ethiopia, there lived tribes of people with dog heads. Of course, it is very difficult to assume the likelihood that such strange creatures lived on our planet before, but if they did, Anubis may well have belonged to their kind.
The appearance of Anubis and his images
Many religions contain the premise of animism, a peculiar belief that every object, plant and animal has a soul. That is why from 3100 to 2686 B.C. the deity named Anubis was associated with either a dog or a jackal. But religion has not stood still, because the appearance of the guardian and patron of the underworld kingdom somewhat modernized, Anubis got a human body.
By the way, all the changes and metamorphosis tell us about the images on the stones, preserved since the reign of the first dynasty of the pharaohs. Through drawings and hieroglyphs, the inhabitants of ancient Egypt tell us through the centuries how this pantheon deity was changing. During archaeological excavations, researchers found vases, frescoes and other objects depicting the god Anubis.
Most often he had black skin, which is completely uncharacteristic of jackal or dog skins. Most likely, scientists say, this color of skin was chosen based on the role Anubis played in various rituals. It is no secret that black is an attribute of grief, funerals, in addition to the thick black shade of resin, which is part of the mummification product.
But there were also unique images of Anubis, in which his skin was depicted in white or green colors. Most likely, white symbolized the color of the bandages in which the mummies were wrapped, while green was a symbol of rebirth.
Anubis could be seen with such attributes as a rod wrapped in a dog's skin, or a staff, the end of which was topped with a jackal's head. Exactly the same objects were used by the priests who performed rites dedicated to the deity. By the way, there was always a dog living at the temples. It was cared for, well fed, and after death it was mummified and kept in the temple.
Other names of Anubis
The name Anubis did not acquire by accident. It was originally written as two hieroglyphs, which could be literally translated as "peace be upon him" and "jackal." Then the meaning was transformed into "jackal on a high stand."
Other names can also be found, such as Anubis-Sab, which can be translated as "judge of the gods", Hentiamenti, "he who is ahead of the realm of the dead", and Isdes.
Often Anubis was not called by name, but simply endowed with different epithets:
- "the lord of the realm of the dead."
- "the one who stands in front of the hall of the gods",
- "the lord of the caves."
- "the one who buries."
The ancient Egyptians called the god the one "who wears bandages" and "counts hearts. And despite the fact that Anubis is a deity who did not make any decisions in the final judgment, he had a special place in the heart of every person - because it was always him who supported the lost souls.
The Afterlife of Duat
In the view of the ancient Egyptians, the afterlife was the place through which Ra's fiery boat made its way at night. Here the gods were imprisoned and Osiris' palace was also located. The inhabitants of Duat were demons, Chaos, Maat and other gods.
Speaking about the geography of Duat, it should be said that it consists of several layers, the deeper the layer, the harder it is to get out of there. In the lowest layers is the land of demons, in the upper layers reside the souls of the dead and the gods.
The ancient Egyptians believed that it was possible to travel through Duat, because there is no such thing as distance. The wizards would dive there very shallowly, letting the current of the afterlife carry them. Of course, it required a certain amount of training, knowledge, concentration, and attention.
But magical animals were able to travel through Duat on their own, but these journeys took almost all their strength. The residents of ancient Egypt believed that the only river of Duat was the River of Night.
Nothing is known about the length of this river, except that because of the large number of layers of the afterlife itself, the River of Night itself was not constant. Its waters conceal a great number of waterfalls and rapids, dangerous places which cannot be overcome.
Another Duat site worthy of attention is the Lake of Fire. It is here that Ra's boat is energized every night, receiving the light that is needed to begin illuminating the earth in the morning hours. The River of the Night flows into this lake; it literally falls in a fiery waterfall.
Like everything else that exists in this afterlife, the Lake of Fire has no boundaries, and its location is rather difficult to trace.
In the center of the lake is the palace of Osiris. It is a large structure built of black stone. In the throne room is the throne of the deity, and right in front of it is a scale, on which the heart of the dead man is placed. This palace is the home of Anubis, who accompanies the souls, and Amat, who devours them.
Psychostasis - weighing the soul
The people of ancient Greece imagined the procedure of weighing of souls as follows: a lonely soul appeared before the judges, among whom were Osiris, the god of wisdom Thoth, who wrote down the results of the trial, and the goddess of justice Maat. And the more good thoughts and high ideals were on the heart of the deceased, the better it was for him. Forty-two members of the court were present, and it was they who listened to the last confession of the person.
The heart was placed on one side of the scale, and Maat balanced the other side. If the confession of the deceased was true, the honest heart kept its balance, but if there were too many sins and lies, it became heavier, the scale tipped, pronouncing its verdict.
The sinful, deceitful soul became the prey of Amath, whose image even today gives shivers: she was a lioness with the torso of a hippopotamus and the head of a crocodile. Those who were acquitted at the trial opened the gates to Eternity.
The only mission of Anubis was to escort the soul, and he would return to the threshold of the afterlife, where there were other deceased waiting for him.
Temple of Anubis
The cult of Anubis originated about 2,500 years BC. The center of the greatest reverence for the dog-headed deity was the city of Quinopolis. According to some sources, one of the names of Anubis - Hentyamenti - is the name of the place where the temple of the deity was located.
In those days Osiris was only revered as the personification of Pharaoh after death. What was Anubis the god of? He was considered the master of the world of the dead, the accountant of the hearts of the dead. The whole of Egypt worshipped him.
By the way, just recently in the northern part of Saqqara, located in the necropolis of Memphis, were discovered unique catacombs, where millions of baboons and falcons were found, there was also found Serapeum - burial complex of bulls.
In addition, more than 8 million dogs, both puppies and adults, were found in the catacombs near the temple of the jackal god.
Unfortunately, most of the mummified animals were either ground up by peasants for fertilizer or looted by looters. However, even these losses did not prevent archaeologists from realizing that Anubis was incredibly popular here.
Researchers note: the place is a long network of tunnels immersed in pitch darkness. Light penetrates only into the first hall of the catacombs, the rest of it is completely unlit.
It is likely that these catacombs were erected as early as the fourth century B.C. Today, archaeologists continue to carefully study every corner of the dungeons. In addition to the mummies of dogs, they have found mummies of foxes, jackals, cats and mongooses. It is most likely that all dog-like creatures were revered here as incarnations of the god Anubis.
Mention in the Pyramid Texts
The earliest mentions of this deity are found in the so-called Texts of the Pyramids, dating from the time of the Ancient Kingdom - the twenty-third century BC. Here Anubis is associated exclusively with royal tombs.
We must not forget that in ancient Egypt there was a "Book of the Dead", the pages of which were collected religious hymns. This book was placed in the tomb of a deceased person so that his soul could overcome all the obstacles of the netherworld.
According to this book, Anubis was inextricably linked with the color of death and night - black. Most often he was depicted weighing the heart of a person who had passed away and was on trial.
Myths about the god
One of the myths about this deity that have survived to our time tells of a confrontation between Anubis and Seth. This took place while Osiris was still alive. At that time, the retinue of the god was headed by a good demon, Imahuemankh, who had a human body and a falcon's head.
This demon was controlled by another, Jesertep. Anubis was their faithful friend. After Osiris died, the friends were joined by Upuaut, and the whole foursome engaged in a struggle with Set. Jesertep followed the head of Seth's accomplices, a demon named Demib.
One day he saw him by the swamps, prowling for the mummy of Osiris. Demib dreamed of doing his master's bidding and destroying the mummy. The four friends chased after him, but he felt he was being followed. They succeeded in capturing Demib, Imahuemankh cut off his head.
Of course, Seth decided to retrieve the demon's remains in order to give them an honorable burial. In order not to be recognized, this god took the form of Anubis, which allowed him to pass unhindered through the guards at the Delta swamps. He gathered the dismembered body of the demon in a sack and was about to leave, but he was spotted by Anubis and Horus himself. They caught up with Seth and engaged him in battle.
No one knows how this confrontation would have ended had Thoth not come to his aid. The God of wisdom and sorcery could not but help Horus and Anubis. With a single sorcery spell he was able to cast Seth to the ground. Then the real Anubis bound his double's hands and feet and Isis dismembered him.
Upon learning that their leader had been killed, Seth's demonic henchmen gathered a huge army and marched out to rescue the lord. The jackal-headed god Anubis decided to face the demons alone. With a single swing of his knife, he managed to hack off the heads of absolutely all of his opponents, their blood soaking the ground, turning them into the stone scheelite, which has a rich red color.
The Stone of scheelite
Another myth tells how Seth managed to get hold of the two Eyes of Ouaget. He hid them in a casket and transformed himself into a gigantic crocodile and lay down beside them.
In order to get the treasure, Anubis changed his usual appearance and turned into a winged serpent with numerous knives instead of feathers and claws. He penetrated the mountain where the caskets were kept, opened them, took the contents and reburied them elsewhere. Both Eyes sprouted, becoming vines.
Isis, Anubis' adoptive mother, asked him to build a palace next to these eyes. The god Anubis couldn't help but fulfill this request, and so it wasn't long before Isis was settled in the amazing palace. After a short time, the god Ra gave both the Eyes of Ouajet to Anubis, thereby recognizing him as the earthly ruler. The joy of the dog-headed deity knew no bounds, because he finally managed to get his father's sanction.
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№10. Modern depictions of Anubis in popular culture do not correspond to his true image.
In modern representations, Anubis is often at best a scary, powerful figure; and at worst a villainous one. In the last few decades he has gained popularity in popular culture. These modern depictions often play the role of Anubis as god of the dead and the afterlife in a more aggressive or otherwise evil role than in Egyptian mythology. In classical Egyptian mythology, however, Anubis has a much more moral reputation . He is an ally of Osiris, whose resurrection myth is of great interest to scholars because of its potential influence on other belief systems. Also, while modern pictorials attribute something satanic to Anubis, in fact, in the Egyptian pantheon, his true disposition is much closer to the more reasonable figure who is at the center of Egyptian conceptions of death and the afterlife; and the concept of morality.
