Anubis

Guardian of the Dead

Anubis is the jackal-headed god who presided over mummification, embalming, and the passage of souls to the afterlife. In the earliest periods of Egyptian religion, he was the supreme lord of the underworld before Osiris rose to prominence.

The Sacred Embalmer

Anubis invented the art of mummification when he helped Isis prepare the body of Osiris after his murder by Set. His priests wore jackal masks during embalming rituals, acting as earthly embodiments of the god. The black color associated with Anubis represents both the fertile Nile soil and the discoloration of mummified bodies.

Weighing of the Heart

His most crucial role is in the Hall of Two Truths, where he conducts the weighing of the heart ceremony. He places the deceased's heart on one side of the scales and the feather of Ma'at on the other. If the heart is heavy with sin, it is devoured by the demon Ammit, and the soul ceases to exist. If balanced, the soul proceeds to paradise.

Cult Centers

Anubis was worshipped throughout Egypt, with his primary cult center at Cynopolis ("City of Dogs"). Jackals and wild dogs roaming cemeteries may have inspired his association with death.