Egyptology: Anubis

Anubis, The Master of Secrets

Anubis was and is one of of Egypt’s oldest and most intriguing deities. Instantly recognizable, this iconic character was central to beliefs about death, burial, and the afterlife in a time and place when such matters were taken very seriously.

From jackal guardian of tombs to psychopomp and embalmer of Osiris, his role shifted over millennia but always remained tied to protecting souls and ensuring just passage into eternity.

He was known as the Master of Secrets because he had knowledge of the afterlife and death.

A Few Facts

• Anubis was one of the most ancient deities of Egypt, predating even Osiris in funerary roles.

• Revered as protector of the dead and god of cemeteries, embalming, and the afterlife.

• The Jackals that Anubis is depicted as were not actually black in real life. They were, it’s said, African Golden Wolves and much lighter in color.

• Jackals often roamed cemeteries looking for decomposing flesh hence the association with death by the Egyptians. By making Anubis the patron deity of the Jackals, the Egyptians hoped to discourage ‘body snatching’ by the animals.

Origins and Name

• Egyptian name: Inpu (Anpu), likely meaning “to decay” or “royal child.”

• Greek name or translation: Anubis

• Worship began as early as Predynastic Egypt (before 3100 BCE).

Depictions and Symbols

• Commonly shown as a black jackal or a man with a jackal’s head.

• Black symbolized:

  • The color of decayed flesh (death).

  • The fertile soil of the Nile (rebirth).

• Symbols include:

  • The flail and was-scepter (authority).

  • Scales of justice in funerary scenes.

  • Ankh (life) in later iconography.

Mythological Roles

• Protector of tombs: Jackals often prowled cemeteries, inspiring his association.

• God of embalming: Credited with inventing mummification, embalmed Osiris himself.

• Psychopomp (guide of souls): Escorted the dead to the afterlife.

• Judge of the dead: Conducted the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony.

  • Heart weighed against Ma’at’s feather of truth.

  • If balanced, then eternal life awaited.

  • If heavier, then the heart would be devoured by Ammit, the “Eater of the Dead.” This would mean no afterlife.

Myth Connections

• Son of Nephthys and sometimes Osiris (in some traditions).

• In other accounts, son of Ra.

• Helped Isis reassemble and embalm Osiris after his murder by Set.

• Protector of Horus in the conflict against Set.

Cult and Worship

• Cult centers: Cynopolis (“City of the Dog”) in Middle Egypt.

• Priests often wore jackal masks during embalming rituals.

• No large temples dedicated solely to Anubis (unlike Osiris or Horus), but he was integral in funerary rites everywhere.

Evolution Over Time

• In the Old Kingdom: chief god of the dead.

• Later replaced in prominence by Osiris as ruler of the underworld.

• Continued as guardian and embalmer, serving Osiris in funerary myth.

• In Greco-Roman times: merged with Hermes as Hermanubis, psychopomp of both traditions.

Legacy and Influence

• Appears in Pyramid Texts and Book of the Dead.

• Modern influence:

  • Popular in Egyptology, literature, art, video games, and films.

  • Seen as a symbol of mystery, death, and protection.