The gods most typically associated with Egypt are undoubtedly among the most ancient deities recognized, and amongst these these Anubis may well be the most well-known. Archaeologists discovered reference of Anubis in the earliest predynastic period of Egyptian history, more than 5000 years in the past.

To ancient Egyptians, the complete world acted according to the model of the area where these people were living; brought to life by the sun along with the Nile, each capable of making life along with death. Their community seemed to be quite organised. The waters ran from North to South, while the sun rose in the East and set in the West. Every year the Nile water would burst its banks, spread out over the fields after which it would recede, providing fertilized land. Existence, to the ancient Egyptians, acquired an absolute rhythm which often they enshrined in mythology.

There were a great many other gods who in turn took many forms and had various titles. Each area and village had it's own gods and beliefs, even so some gods were popular to just about all regions of Egypt and due to this fact these are the most commonly known today, specifically Osiris, Isis, Anubis, Bes, Ma'at, Khum, Seth, Hathor, Bastet,Thoth, Sobek, Amun Ra, Mut along with Khonsu.

Chances are that Anubis would have been a principal deity of the very first Egyptians, he appeared to be without doubt the primary god belonging to the 17th Upper Egyptian nome, an urban area the Greeks labeled 'Cynopolis' or City of the Dogs. His general role changed because of the growth of the cult of Osiris. Myth asserted Anubis was a son of Osiris, not by Isis his wife, but by Nepthys (who had disguised herself as Isis) Worried about her own husbands anger from her giving birth, Nepthys then asked Isis to become Anubis' foster mother.

Today Anubis may be known generally as the 'God of the Dead' yet this includes connotations that are quite absent from his role in Egyptian faith. The afterlife was very serious to the Ancient Egyptians and they invested a lot of their existence planning for this, thinking that after they perished they would journey to Duat, the underworld, to be judged. The voyage was considered believed to be very difficult, so numerous spells and incantations seemed to be needed to help them uncover their particular way.

These were written in the 'Book of Coming Forth by Day', often known as the 'Book of the Dead' which was put within the coffin. About 17 feet in length these books associated with the prosperous would comprise their own individual range of spells and adornment, whereas those not as well-heeled would get one 'off the peg' and simply add the name of the loved one. It is obvious from the many such books that have lasted, that Anubis wasn't, for this reason to be dreaded or feared, he was rather the friend of the dead; as 'he who is upon his mountain' Anubis was a defender, not simply of the dead, but also of their resting places. This could possibly be the major basis for his therianthropic manifestation, being a male with the head of a jackal; jackals were generally to be discovered in or around a necropolis.

Anubis is always displayed coloured black as that is the color of a body after it has been mummified. His zoomorphic form is seemingly that of a jackal, although a number of scholars argue that it is in fact a jackal/dog hybrid. Howard Carter, expounding on possibly the most recognized Anubis statue of all, the Anubis statue from the burial place of Tutankhamen, mentions canine like ears as well as pointed muzzle, though the low slung tail of the jackal.

As the ancient Egyptians had a strong faith in the existence of a soul or spirit, they were equally sure that both human body as well as spirit were necessary to be able to take pleasure in the afterlife; it was this belief which lead them towards invention of ever more advanced procedures of mummification to conserve the body and also to the making of tombs in order to store it.

It was the purpose of Anubis to protect the body and shield it through the mummification treatment when he would preside over the embalming of the body as well as the 'opening of the way', the ceremony where the departed became able to converse and eat again in preparation for the afterlife. For this reason an Anubis statue, more-so than almost every other Egyptian statue, has been seen in every tomb.

Anubis last, and maybe most important role was to guide the deceased throughout the underworld to the Hall of Two Truths where he (always shown being a heart) could be judged. The belief was that every individual (including Pharaoh) would be required to weigh his soul against the feather of Ma'at, the goddess associated with justice. As guardian of the dead Anubis examined that the scale was first exactly horizontal before the judgement. If the soul was too heavy it was Anubis role to offer the dead to Ammit, the feared demon who would destroy the deceased for ever, but if the judgement had been favorable the deceased was viewed as having lead an outstanding and genuine life and was made welcome by Osiris to the afterlife.

Whether being a jackal or even a jackal headed man, an Egyptian god of the dead statue appeared to be part of each and every Egyptian home, reassuring the occupants that even loss they would receive a reasonable and just guardian and protector to guide the way to immortality.

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Article Submitted By: Vance Lassiter
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