Anubis
Anubis : Foremost of the Westerners
Egyptian goddess Nephthys seduced her sisterâs husband, Osiris, and conceived Anubis. (The name Anubis may be interpreted as âRoyal Child.â) After his birth, Nephthys left him in the Necropolis, where jackals raised him. After Osirisâ death, Isis came looking for her husbandâs son. She adopted Anubis, who became her faithful companion as she searched for Osirisâ body. During the journey, Anubis invented embalming and mummification: Osiris was the first mummy.
Thatâs one version of Anubisâ myth. The other is that he is an ancient deity who ruled as Lord of Death before Osiris and is older than Osiris. Jackal-headed figures abound in prehistoric North African rock art and may represent Anubis. As Osiris gained popularity, Anubis became subservient to him, at least officially. It was crucial that new myths incorporate Anubis into the new pantheon because, although Osiris may bear the title of Lord of the Dead, his role is largely passive. Anubis does most of the work. He is the most active participant in the death process. Anubis presides over rituals involving corpse and soul:
⢠Anubis is guardian of the door through which the deceased enter the hall of judgment.
⢠He leads the soul to the field of celestial offerings.
⢠Anubis presides over the weighing of the heart ritual: the ceremony of judgment that determines the soulâs fate.
⢠He himself places the heart on the scales of justice and personally feeds the souls of those who fail to pass the test to Ammit, the monster who devours them.
⢠He supervises the mummification process,ensuring that it is ritually correct.
⢠Anubis supervises the crucial opening-of-the-mouth ceremony, the ritual which ensured the reanimation of the soul.
Egyptian funerary priests wore jackal masks, perhaps channelling Anubis.
Anubis travelled to Rome with Isis, where he was venerated as the ruler of hosts of infernal spirits. The Romans considered Anubis generally protective but also invoked his help with curses. The Romans carried Anubis throughout Europe: Anubis amulets are found as far as a grave on the Isle of Anglesey.
Anubis opens the path allowing spirits and humans to travel between realms. He serves as a guide if requested. Anubis will stand guard for you. Point his image in the direction of what must be protected or from whence you fear danger will emerge.
⢠Anubis knows the date of everyoneâs death and may be petitioned to reveal it.
⢠Anubis locates lost articles but only if you have a statue of him: touch his ears and request his help.
⢠Anubis guards the dead, protecting against grave robbing and desecration.
⢠He guards mediums, ensuring that only benevolent spirits approach.
⢠Anubis may sometimes wear the mask of Saint Christopher.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Anpu
ORIGIN:
Egypt
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Mediums, diviners, and those working in the funeral industry; Anubis protects children.
Manifestations:
A black jackal or hound, a man with a jackalâs head
ICONOGRAPHY:
Although he is called a jackal, he is not portrayed as a realistic jackal; the Egyptians were not interested in realistic portraiture but in conveying spiritual and mystic truths via color and image.
ANIMALS:
Jackal, dogs; some see the image of Anubis as really resembling Egyptian hounds more than jackals: he may be the ancient prototype of modern Pharaoh Hounds.
COLOUR:
Black
EMBLEM:
Bloodstained black-and-white oxhide hanging from a pole
STAR:
Sirius, the Dog Star
Spirit allies:
Wepwawet; Isis; Horus; Nephthys; Thoth
OFFERINGS:
Canis simensis, the Ethiopian jackal or wolf (like Anubis, there is dispute as to its true identity), is extremely endangered: offerings on its behalf or on behalf of Pharaoh Hounds in need (Pharaoh hound rescue) may be appreciated; alternatively an altar in your home or in a funeral parlour or cemetery; Anubis enjoys a drink: beer, wine, or spirits; give him macabre funeral- and death-themed toys and figures.
Anubis offers immortality in the 1933 Boris Karloff movie, The Ghoul.
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright Š 2009 by Judika Illes.