A Who's Who of World Mythology : Anubis

Presiding over the embalming ceremony, Anubis is the jackal-headed Egyptian god of Abydos and Memphis. Anubis is the Greek version of his name however, and to the Egyptians, he was Anpu, Anup, or Wip, meaning watcher and guardian of dogs. His titles include Amy-ut, “he who is in the mortuary,” Khenty-imentiu, “chief of the Westerners,” Khenty-she-netjer, “Chief of the gods’ pavilion,” Neb-ta-d-jeser, “Lord of the sacred land,” and Tepy-dju-ef, “He who is upon the mountain.” Some consider his cult to be older than that of Osiris, and possibly of totemic origin. His deification may have been an attempt to prevent the jackals from devouring the dead.

Around his neck is a collar of magical incantations. Most often he is depicted in the form of a black dog or jackal, usually lying down or crouching, with his ears pricked and his tail hanging.

Less often, he may be seen in human form with a canine head. He is always black due to the color of the corpses once the embalming process is complete and the use of black tar used to seal the bindings. His symbol is an animal skin, headless and dripping blood and tied to a pole.

Born to Osiris and Nephthys (or Bastet), he was hidden (or exposed) in the marshes by his mother to protect him from her husband Set. (An alternate version made him the son of Set or fourth son of Ra.) With the help of some dogs, he was discovered by Isis. He accompanied Osiris in his journeys, and later accompanied Isis as her guard and attendant in her quest to find the dismembered body of Osiris. He is credited with the invention of funerary rites and created the first mummy as he tended the body of Osiris.

Together with Upuaut or Wepwawet, he traveled through the land underworld, leading the dead to the Hall of Two Truths and supervising the weighing of their hearts. For this he is also known as the “claimer of hearts.” He is also known as the “Opener of ways,” and the priest who presided over the opening of the mouth ceremony wore an Anubis mask.