Anubis

Guardian of the Dead

Anubis was the Egyptian god of embalming, cemeteries and guiding the dead. Egyptians showed him as a black jackal or as a man with a jackal's head. Real jackals lived near the desert edges where people were buried, so turning a jackal into the guardian of tombs was a clever idea. Instead of an animal threatening the dead, Anubis became the powerful protector watching over them. His black colour did not mean he was evil. Black was also the colour of the rich Nile soil and could represent renewal and new life.

Anubis was worshipped very early in Egyptian history. Later, Osiris became the main ruler of the Underworld, but Anubis kept several extremely important jobs. In a familiar version of the Osiris story, he helps Isis after Set has killed and scattered Osiris. Anubis preserves and wraps the body, creating a divine example for mummification. Egyptian embalmers carefully prepared bodies using natron, oils, resins and linen. Some ceremonies may have included a priest wearing a jackal mask to represent Anubis while the mummy was prepared.

Anubis also appears in one of the most famous scenes from the Egyptian afterlife. He leads the dead person towards a set of scales and checks the balance while their heart is weighed against the feather of Ma'at. Thoth records the result and Osiris watches over the judgement. If the heart is in balance, the person can continue into the afterlife. If it fails, Ammit waits nearby. Anubis does not make up the result or chase innocent people around tombs. His job is to make sure everything is done correctly. Modern films sometimes turn him into a frightening villain, but that misses the point. Ancient Egyptians wanted Anubis close because death was already frightening enough. He protected the body, guarded the tomb and guided the traveller through a place they had never visited before. To me, he is less like a monster and much more like the world's most serious tour guide.

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