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Why was Anubis important in ancient Egyptian funerary practices?
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ancient Egypt
Side view of the Sphinx with the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) rising in the background, Giza, Egypt.
In ancient Egyptian funerary practices, Anubis held a vital role as the god responsible for the care of the dead and the oversight of funerary cults.12
His importance was rooted in several key functions:
- Inventor of Embalming: Anubis was credited with creating the art of embalming, which he reportedly first performed on the body of Osiris. This practice was essential to the Egyptian belief in preserving the body for the afterlife.12
- Lord of the Dead: During the Early Dynastic period and the Old Kingdom, he served as the preeminent lord of the dead, overseeing the necropolis and the sacred lands where the deceased were laid to rest.12
- Conductor of Souls: In later periods, his role evolved to include guiding souls through the afterlife, a function that led the Greco-Roman world to associate him with the Greek god Hermes.12
Represented as a jackal or a man with a jackal's head, Anubis remained a central figure in ensuring the spiritual and physical protection of the deceased.2