ANIMALS The guardian of the dead Anubis marked ancient Egypt from its beginnings and throughout its territory; extremely popular, this god is a canine – whole animal or man with the head of a dog – who watches over necropolises and funeral rites.
Anubis, son of Isis and Osiris, is the god of the necropolis. — Dario Lo Presti/Shutterstock
Anubis, recognizable by; his black head with a long snout and erect ears, is one of the oldest Egyptian gods and best known to the general public. It’s hard to know if it’s a dog, because each of its physical characteristics seems to belong to a dog. a different animal: fox ears, greyhound slim body, jackal tail, etc. In any case, Anubis clearly belongs to the group of canine deities. Sometimes represented like a big canine black coated on the stomach, or as a man with a canine face, he is a major funerary god of ancient Egypt, watching over necropolises and embalmers.
Detail from the wall of the tomb of Horemheb, in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. – Jakub Kyncl/Shutterstock
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Anubis, guardian of the dead
It is assumed that the association between canids and the funerary world is linked to the fact that many canine species are scavengers that willingly wandered in cemeteries. Also, canids bury their food, and that hadn’t escaped the notice. to Egyptian observers who saw in it the same gesture as for burial. Another major role of this deity is is directly linked to the role of canids from Antiquity: Anubis is associated with to the protection of cattle herds, as was already the case; dogs to at the time. The cattle horns being sacrificed during funerary rituals, Anubis plays a double role, master of the dairy cows or the fighting bulls, and master of the burial. He watches over the ritual slaughters, assuming the role of the priest or chief butcher, and over the distribution of the offerings, supplying the deceased with bread, beer, oil, alabaster and cattle.
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A god of great renown
Although most of the funerary gods of ancient Egypt were usually worshiped only at the local level, Anubis enjoys popularity throughout the world. unique in its kind because we found its trace on all the Egyptian territory, whether among the poorest peasants or among the greatest pharaohs. He even had a major influence beyond of the empire and close figures are found elsewhere in Africa, notably in Nubia, but also in the Greek world, particularly in the kingdom of Macedonia, where he is the guide of souls after death within the framework of Isiac cults. À Rome on the other hand, its appearance mixing human and animal forms is considered ridiculous and disgusting. Virgil, among others, considers him a deity; laughable without any measure with the Roman gods. Early Christian writers are no more tender, as this 4th-century writing attests: “What nation has enough stupid mind, enough barbaric language, or what superstition is enough stupid to place a barking Anubis on the celestial throne? tête de chien ?”
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