Anubis is an ancient Egyptian god of the dead and the afterlife. He is depicted as a man with the head of a jackal and is one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian mythology.
Anubis’s name means “the one who is on the throne”. His role in the Egyptian mythology is closely associated with the concept of death and the afterlife in ancient Egypt. He was believed to be the god who oversaw the process of mummification and was the one who protected the dead on their journey through the underworld.
He is also responsible for the weighing of the heart ceremony in which the heart of the deceased is weighed against the feather of Ma’at to determine if the person was worthy of entering the afterlife. If he found the heart to be lighter than the feather, he would judge the soul to be innocent. If he found the person to be a sinner, he would hand them over to Ammit. She would then devour their souls, getting rid of them once and for all. Yum.
Anubis is also ca god of funerary rites and was often depicted in tomb paintings and funerary texts to guide the dead through the underworld. He was also depicted in amulets and statues as a way for the living to seek his protection and guidance in the afterlife.
Anubis protects the dead from harm and ensures their safe passage through the underworld. He was also considered to be the protector of the tombs and was often depicted as a guardian of the dead.
