Anubis manifests with the body of a man and head of a jackal, a wild canine common to Egypt and the near East. He can also be all animal. He's either a golden jackal or Egyptian jackal, actually a wolf.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
In the Neolithic and Bronze Ages both species inhabit parts of Egypt and Africa. The golden jackal is widespread in Eurasia.
See also:
Anubis keeps a low profile for many centuries. His rise to power coincides with that of the Romans in the first millennium BCE. A god of funerary rites and embalming, Anubis plays an important role in the Afterlife.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
He's sometimes shown embalming the deceased. He acts as a guide or psychopomp to the newly dead, bringing the person into the first part of the Underworld, Duat.
See also:
He takes part in the weighing of the heart. Egyptians believe the soul is in the heart. If the heart is lighter than a feather of Ma'at (Maat) winged goddess of justice, the deceased may proceed. If not, the hybrid demon Ammitt eats the heart and the unfortunate dead one must stay in Duat.
If the heart is light, the conscience free of guilt or regret, the deceased faces 21 Goddess Doors each guarded by a deity or demon. The person might have to say an incantation, answer a question, perform an act of courage, skill or wit, or beat the guardian in a competition.
See also:
At the end of it all, Anubis waits to escort the deceased to the sanctum of Osiris, god of the Dead, who welcomes the person to the Egyptian paradise of Aaru. After that, the work of the jackal-headed god is done, at least for that one.
Anubis is a link between the world of the dead and that of the living. He comes into this role during the Middle Kingdom (c 2000 - 1700 BCE) when Osiris takes over as Lord of the Dead and the weighing of the heart ceremony has its start.
See also:
The reason Anubis has a jackal's head is because jackals are often seen around the tombs of the dead, thus associating them with death and the afterlife. A continuing problem in ancient Egypt is the digging up of graves by golden jackals, feral dogs and wolves.
Read: Cult of the Fire God - Bronze Age Quest Adventure
The Egyptian jackal is not a jackal at all, but a subspecies of grey wolf sometimes called the Egyptian wolf. It's found in Egypt and most of Africa. A jackal can develop a small forehead protrusion or horn, usually covered by hair, considered a magical symbol.
See also:
.jpg)
Anubis as an ancient God dates back to at least 3100 BCE. The name Anubis is a more recent term, from the Greek name of the God in 7th century BCE. For the many centuries in between, he's called Anpu or Inpu.
His epithets are too many to list. They include Lord of the Sacred Land, the Dog Who Swallows Millions, Master of Secrets, and He Who is in the Place of Embalming.
See also:
In the Early Dynastic period (c. 3100 - 2686 BCE) Anubis is shown in full jackal form. Statues, carvings or wall art of the jackal resting on a platform, alert with ears pricked up, are common in historical Egyptian palace decor.
Anubis is the most important god of the dead until the Egyptian Middle Kingdom (c. 2000 - 1700 BCE), when Osiris takes on the major role as lord of the Underworld. Anubis retains a revered rank among the Gods.
See also:
As the Embalmer he carries the imiut fetish. In use since c. 3100 the fetish is a skin of cat or bull tied to a pole with a tail ending in a lotus bud. The pole is inserted into a stand. Its purpose is not known, but it's been part of funerary rites for centuries.
In the Osiris myth, Anubis embalms the title character. Osiris is a primeval king usurped by his brother Set. Isis, the wife of Osiris, restores the king's body. Osiris posthumously fathers Horus, the Falcon Headed God.
See also:
Eventually Horus restores order and ousts Set from the throne. Osiris is then fully resurrected. He's often depicted with green skin due to the connection between vegetation and the Great Earth.
Anubis becomes patron god of embalmers. Later scenes of embalming show the presiding priest wearing a canine mask during the embalming and mummification process.
See also:
Although he doesn't often appear in myth, Anubis enjoys widespread popularity as a deity in Egypt. His major cult centers are Lycopolis (city of the wolf) and Cynopolis (city of the dog). He's worshipped throughout the land.
See also: