Anubis
Anubis | |
---|---|
Siblings | Wepwawet |
Consort | Anput, Nephthys[1] |
Offspring | Kebechet |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Hades or Hermes |
Anubis (
Like many
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 his brother Wepwawet, 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.[5] Anubis' female counterpart is Anput. His daughter is the serpent goddess Kebechet.
Name
"Anubis" is a Greek rendering of this god's
In the Old Kingdom (c. 2686 BC – c. 2181 BC), the standard way of writing his name in hieroglyphs was composed of the sound signs inpw followed by a jackal[a] over a ḥtp sign:[11]
|
A new form with the jackal on a tall stand appeared in the late Old Kingdom and became common thereafter:[11]
|
Anubis' name jnpw was possibly pronounced [a.ˈna.pʰa(w)], based on Coptic Anoup and the Akkadian transcription 𒀀𒈾𒉺⟨a-na-pa⟩ in the name <ri-a-na-pa> "Reanapa" that appears in Amarna letter EA 315.[12][13] However, this transcription may also be interpreted as rˁ-nfr, a name similar to that of Prince Ranefer of the Fourth Dynasty.
History
In Egypt's
In the
The parentage of Anubis varied between myths, times and sources. In early mythology, he was portrayed as a son of
For when Isis found out that Osiris loved her sister and had relations with her in mistaking her sister for herself, and when she saw a proof of it in the form of a garland of clover that he had left to Nephthys – she was looking for a baby, because Nephthys abandoned it at once after it had been born for fear of Set; and when Isis found the baby helped by the dogs which with great difficulties lead her there, she raised him and he became her guard and ally by the name of Anubis.
In the
Although the Greeks and
Roles
Embalmer
As jmy-wt (Imiut or the
In the Osiris myth, Anubis helped Isis to embalm Osiris.[18] Indeed, when the Osiris myth emerged, it was said that after Osiris had been killed by Set, Osiris's organs were given to Anubis as a gift. With this connection, Anubis became the patron god of embalmers; during the rites of mummification, illustrations from the Book of the Dead often show a wolf-mask-wearing priest supporting the upright mummy.
Protector of tombs
Anubis was a protector of
The Jumilhac papyrus recounts another tale where Anubis protected the body of Osiris from Set. Set attempted to attack the body of Osiris by transforming himself into a leopard. Anubis stopped and subdued Set, however, and he branded Set's skin with a hot iron rod. Anubis then flayed Set and wore his skin as a warning against evil-doers who would desecrate the tombs of the dead.[31] Priests who attended to the dead wore leopard skin in order to commemorate Anubis' victory over Set. The legend of Anubis branding the hide of Set in leopard form was used to explain how the leopard got its spots.[32]
Most ancient tombs had prayers to Anubis carved on them.[33]
Guide of souls
By the
Weigher of hearts
One of the roles of Anubis was as the "Guardian of the Scales."[37] The critical scene depicting the weighing of the heart, in the Book of the Dead, shows Anubis performing a measurement that determined whether the person was worthy of entering the realm of the dead (the underworld, known as Duat). By weighing the heart of a deceased person against ma'at, who was often represented as an ostrich feather, Anubis dictated the fate of souls. Souls heavier than a feather would be devoured by Ammit, and souls lighter than a feather would ascend to a heavenly existence.[38][39]
Portrayal in art
Anubis was one of the most frequently represented deities in
In the
Anubis is often depicted wearing a ribbon and holding a nḫ3ḫ3 "flail" in the crook of his arm.[43] Another of Anubis's attributes was the jmy-wt or imiut fetish, named for his role in embalming.[45] In funerary contexts, Anubis is shown either attending to a deceased person's mummy or sitting atop a tomb protecting it. New Kingdom tomb-seals also depict Anubis sitting atop the nine bows that symbolize his domination over the enemies of Egypt.[46]
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Statue of Anubis
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Wall relief of Anubis in (KV17) the tomb of Seti I, 19th Dynasty, Valley of the Kings
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Anubis receiving offerings,hieroglyph name in third column from left, 14th century BC; painted limestone; from Saqqara(Egypt)
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The Anubis Shrine; 1336–1327 BC; painted wood and gold; 1.1 × 2.7 × 0.52 m; from the Valley of the Kings; Egyptian Museum (Cairo)
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Stela of Siamun and Taruy worshipping Anubis
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The king with Anubis, from the tomb of Horemheb; 1323-1295 BC; tempera on paper; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Anubis amulet; 664–30 BC; faience; height: 4.7 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Recumbent Anubis; 664–30 BC; limestone, originally painted black; height: 38.1 cm, length: 64 cm, width: 16.5 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Statuette of Anubis; 332–30 BC; plastered and painted wood; 42.3 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
Worship
Although he does not appear in many myths, he was extremely popular with Egyptians and those of other cultures.[8] The Greeks linked him to their god Hermes, the god who guided the dead to the afterlife. The pairing was later known as Hermanubis. Anubis was heavily worshipped because, despite modern beliefs, he gave the people hope. People marveled in the guarantee that their body would be respected at death, their soul would be protected and justly judged.[8]
Anubis had male priests who sported wood masks with the god's likeness when performing rituals.[8][9] His cult center was at Cynopolis in Upper Egypt but memorials were built everywhere and he was universally revered in every part of the nation.[8]
In popular culture
In popular and media culture, Anubis is often falsely portrayed as the sinister god of the dead. He gained popularity during the 20th and 21st centuries through books, video games, and movies where artists would give him evil powers and a dangerous army. Despite his nefarious reputation, his image is still the most recognizable of the Egyptian gods and replicas of his statues and paintings remain popular.[citation needed]
See also
- Abatur, Mandaean uthra who weighs the souls of the dead to determine their fate
- Animal mummy § Miscellaneous animals
- Anput
- Anubias
- Bhairava
- Hades
References
Informational notes
- ^ The wild canine species in Egypt, long thought to have been a geographical variant of the golden jackal in older texts, was reclassified in 2015 as a separate species known as the African wolf, which was found to be more closely related to wolves and coyotes than to the jackal.[10] Nevertheless, ancient Greek texts about Anubis constantly refer to the deity as having a dog's head, not a jackal or wolf's, and there is still uncertainty as to what canid represents Anubis. Therefore the Name and History section uses the names the original sources used but in quotation marks.
Citations
- ^ a b Lévai, Jessica (2007). Aspects of the Goddess Nephthys, Especially During the Graeco-Roman Period in Egypt. UMI. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. Merriam-Webster, 2007. p. 56
- ISBN 978-0-15-140934-1.
- ^ a b Johnston 2004, p. 579.
- ^ Gryglewski 2002, p. 145.
- ^ Coulter & Turner 2000, p. 58.
- ^ a b "Gods and Religion in Ancient Egypt – Anubis". Archived from the original on 27 December 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Anubis". World History Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
- ^ a b c "Anubis". Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- PMID 26234211.
- ^ a b Leprohon 1990, p. 164, citing Fischer 1968, p. 84 and Lapp 1986, pp. 8–9.
- ^ Conder 1894, p. 85.
- ^ "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
- ^ Wilkinson 1999, p. 262.
- ^ Wilkinson 1999, pp. 280–81.
- ^ Wilkinson 1999, p. 262 (burials in shallow graves in Predynastic Egypt); Freeman 1997, p. 91 (rest of the information).
- ^ Wilkinson 1999, p. 262 ("fighting like with like" and "by jackals and other wild dogs").
- ^ a b Freeman 1997, p. 91.
- ^ Riggs 2005, pp. 166–67.
- ^ a b Hart 1986, p. 25.
- ^ a b c Hart 1986, p. 26.
- ^ Gryglewski 2002, p. 146.
- ^ Peacock 2000, pp. 437–38 (Hellenistic kingdom).
- ^ "Hermanubis | English | Dictionary & Translation by Babylon". Babylon.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ^ a b Riggs 2005, p. 166.
- ^ Hoerber 1963, p. 269 (for Cerberus and Hades).
- The Republic, 399e, 567e, 592a (Hoerber 1963, p. 268).
- ^ a b Hart 1986, pp. 23–24; Wilkinson 2003, pp. 188–90.
- ^ ISBN 9781107027602.
- ^ Hart 1986, p. 23.
- ^ Armour 2001.
- ^ Zandee 1960, p. 255.
- ^ "The Gods of Ancient Egypt – Anubis". touregypt.net. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Kinsley 1989, p. 178; Riggs 2005, p. 166 ("The motif of Anubis, or less frequently Hathor, leading the deceased to the afterlife was well-established in Egyptian art and thought by the end of the pharaonic era.").
- ^ Riggs 2005, pp. 127 and 166.
- ^ Riggs 2005, pp. 127–28 and 166–67.
- ^ Faulkner, Andrews & Wasserman 2008, p. 155.
- ^ "Museum Explorer / Death in Ancient Egypt – Weighing the heart". British Museum. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Gods of Ancient Egypt: Anubis". Britishmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ^ Wilkinson 1999, p. 263.
- ^ a b c Hart 1986, p. 22.
- ^ Hart 1986, p. 22; Freeman 1997, p. 91.
- ^ a b "Ancient Egypt: the Mythology – Anubis". Egyptianmyths.net. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ISBN 978-1438131801.
- ^ Wilkinson 1999, p. 281.
- ^ Wilkinson 2003, pp. 188–90.
- ISBN 978-0-500-51984-4.
Bibliography
- Armour, Robert A. (2001), Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt, Cairo, Egypt: American University in Cairo Press
- Blackwood, Russell; Crossett, John; Long, Herbert (1962), "Gorgias 482b", The Classical Journal, 57 (7): 318–19, JSTOR 3295283.
- ISBN 978-1-4147-0156-1.
- Coulter, Charles Russell; Turner, Patricia (2000), Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities, Jefferson (NC) and London: McFarland, ISBN 978-0-7864-0317-2.
- Faulkner, Raymond O.; Andrews, Carol; Wasserman, James (2008), The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day, Chronicle Books, ISBN 978-0-8118-6489-3.
- Fischer, Henry George (1968), Dendera in the Third Millennium B. C., Down to the Theban Domination of Upper Egypt, London: J.J. Augustin.
- Freeman, Charles (1997), The Legacy of Ancient Egypt, New York: Facts on File, ISBN 978-0-816-03656-1.
- Gryglewski, Ryszard W. (2002), "Medical and Religious Aspects of Mummification in Ancient Egypt" (PDF), Organon, 31 (31): 128–48, (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
- Hart, George (1986), A Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, ISBN 978-0-415-34495-1.
- Hoerber, Robert G. (1963), "The Socratic Oath 'By the Dog'", The Classical Journal, 58 (6): 268–69, JSTOR 3293989.
- Johnston, Sarah Iles (general ed.) (2004), Religions of the Ancient World: A Guide, Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, ISBN 978-0-674-01517-3.
- Kinsley, David (1989), The Goddesses' Mirror: Visions of the Divine from East and West, Albany (NY): ISBN 978-0-88706-835-5. (paperback).)
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link - Lapp, Günther (1986), Die Opferformel des Alten Reiches: unter Berücksichtigung einiger späterer Formen [The offering formula of the Old Kingdom: considering a few later forms], Mainz am Rhein: Zabern, ISBN 978-3805308724.
- Leprohon, Ronald J. (1990), "The Offering Formula in the First Intermediate Period", The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 76: 163–64, S2CID 192258122.
- Peacock, David (2000), "The Roman Period", in ISBN 978-0-19-815034-3.
- Riggs, Christina (2005), The Beautiful Burial in Roman Egypt: Art, Identity, and Funerary Religion, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press
- Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003), The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, London: Thames & Hudson, ISBN 978-0-500-05120-7.
- Wilkinson, Toby A. H. (1999), Early Dynastic Egypt, London: Routledge
- Zandee, Jan (1960), Death as an Enemy: According to Ancient Egyptian Conceptions, Brill Archive, GGKEY:A7N6PJCAF5Q
Further reading
- Duquesne, Terence (2005). The Jackal Divinities of Egypt I. Darengo Publications. ISBN 978-1-871266-24-5.
- El-Sadeek, Wafaa; Abdel Razek, Sabah (2007). Anubis, Upwawet, and Other Deities: Personal Worship and Official Religion in Ancient Egypt. American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-977-437-231-5.
- Grenier, J.-C. (1977). Anubis alexandrin et romain (in French). E. J. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-04917-8.