Anubis (/ə ˈ nj uː b ɪ s / ;[1] Ancient Greek : Ἄνουβις , Egyptian : jnpw , Coptic : ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲡ Anoup ) is the Greek name of a god associated with mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion , usually depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head . Archeologists have identified Anubis's sacred animal as an Egyptian canid , the African golden wolf .[2] [3] [4] [5] [note 1]
Like many ancient Egyptian deities , Anubis assumed different roles in various contexts. Depicted as a protector of graves as early as the First Dynasty (c. 3100 – c. 2890 BC), Anubis was also an embalmer . By the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055 – 1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris in his role as lord of the underworld . One of his prominent roles was as a god who ushered souls into the afterlife . He attended the weighing scale during the "Weighing of the Heart," in which it was determined whether a soul would be allowed to enter the realm of the dead.[6] Despite being one of the most ancient and "one of the most frequently depicted and mentioned gods" in the Egyptian pantheon , Anubis played almost no role in Egyptian myths .[7]
Anubis was depicted in black, a color that symbolized regeneration, life, the soil of the Nile River , and the discoloration of the corpse after embalming. Anubis is associated with Wepwawet (also called Upuaut), another Egyptian god portrayed with a dog's head or in canine form, but with grey or white fur. Historians assume that the two figures were eventually combined.[8] Anubis' female counterpart is Anput . His daughter is the serpent goddess Kebechet .