Who is he, the god of the dead with the head of a jackal?

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Egyptian mythology to this day excites the imagination of not only researchers, but also ordinary people. All stories are like a fairy tale, which is not always kind and bright. There are also terrible stories about curses and the fate of enemies. Deities occupy an honorable place in the history of Egypt. Not least the jackal-headed god of the dead.

Patron of the Dead

According to some legends, Anubis is the son of the god of all plants, Osiris and Nephthys. According to legend, Nephthys hid the newborn from Seth's husband for a long time. The young deity found shelter with the mother goddess Isis, the sister of Nephthys. Later, Set discovered the betrayal and killed Osiris. Anubis personally took care of the burial and wrapped the body of the dead with fabrics with special impregnation.

In the manuscripts of Ancient Egypt, the god of the dead with the head of a jackal is depicted sitting on a throne. According to legend, it was he who first made a mummy. He is also the founder of the burial ritual. Anubis is considered a deity who participated in the court of the dead, he transported the righteous to Osiris. Unrighteous souls fell into the realm of Ammit. He was portrayed as a man with a headjackal. According to one legend, Anubis assumed the guise of a jackal in order to find the body parts of the deceased Osiris.

First mentions

According to legend, Anubis, the god of the kingdom of the dead in Egypt, became the first patron of the underworld. For a long time he was considered the main deity in this kingdom. His task was to transfer the deceased from the world of the living to the world of the dead. However, after Osiris' death and elevation, he is given a secondary role. In the famous Book of the Dead, Anubis is depicted in the scene of weighing the heart of the deceased on the scales of justice. He is always helped by his own daughter Kabechet, who takes an active part in the mummification process.

There is still no exact description of the beginning of the deity's life. This is evidence that the god is more ancient than many might think. Its origin is shrouded in mystery. In addition, the jackal-headed god of the dead has several names. He was revered throughout ancient Egypt. But the most ardent adherents were the inhabitants of Kinopolis.

How to ensure souls reach Osiris?

The ancient Egyptians believed that only a deep reverence for the gods would allow them to get a place in the afterlife. The patron god of the dead personally oversaw the mummification of the bodies. That is why the priests wore a jackal mask during mummification. In addition, he judged souls by weighing their hearts on the scales. Thus, he measured their faith in the gods.

In order for the departed soul to find peace in the underworld, the embalming ritual must be carried out in strict accordance with the requirements. One small mistake led torestless wandering of the soul in the world of the living. To appease Anubis, next to the deceased it was necessary to put the coat of arms of the god. In addition, there were other items that the soul might need.

After the embalming, Anubis (the jackal-headed god of the dead), accompanied the soul to the throne of Osiris. Here, in front of the main deity of the underworld, the heart of the deceased was placed on the scales. The feather of the goddess of justice was supposed to be placed on the second bowl. If the weight of the soul's sins outweighed it, it was sent to the demon Ammat. Only souls with a pure heart and mind could find peace.

Images of God

Unfortunately, whole statues of God have not survived to this day. Most of the tombs were looted. There were daredevils who were not afraid of the curses of the pharaohs and priests. The only surviving statue is the jackal, which was found in Tutankhamun's tomb. Here he is depicted in full growth guarding the treasury. Masks that were used in the embalming process have also been discovered. All found exhibits are carefully stored in museums.