Anubis

Included in Denys Eyre Bower’s extensive collection of art and antiquities, is a selection of ancient Egyptian objects, one of which was this small bronze statuette of Anubis. Anubis is the Ancient Egyptian god of mummification and is usually depicted as a priest with a Jackal head, tending to a mummy. This small amulet would likely have been placed inside the tomb alongside the body as it was believed that in the afterlife it would provide the dead with protection or extra powers. An amulet of Anubis would have been widely used as he was associated with being the protector of the dead, who made sure they received their due rights in burial and would continue to stand by them to assist them into the afterlife.

Anubis was given the head of the Jackal, a type of dog which would often be found scavenging around cemeteries - hence why it was associated with the dead.

Early in Egyptian history, before the god Osiris rose to prominence, it was Anubis who was the great funerary god, and all prayers for the dead were to be addressed to him. In ancient Egyptian myth, he carried out the first ever mummification of the body of the god Osiris which earned him the role of patron god of embalmers.  This was a very important moment in ancient Egyptian mythology. It saw a shift in the role of Anubis and marked the moment where Anubis and Osiris would become collaborators, who together would conduct the process of judgement for the newly deceased and help them to the afterlife.

Bronze figure of Anubis as a standing jackal-headed figure wearing armlets, bracelets, and anklets, British Museum collection online, museum number EA61010

Gold amuletic pendant, solid cast in the round, the figure represents Anubis, British Museum collection online, museum number EA6579

The role of Anubis as the god of mummification led to examples of priests creating masks made of cartonnage - layers of linen and papyrus, stiffened with plaster before being painted. An Anubis mask would have been worn by the priests during funeral rituals such as the ‘Opening of the Mouth’ ceremony, when the mummy’s eyes, mouth, nose, and ears would be touched in order to restore the senses.

Egyptian Anubis Mask. Copyright Harrogate Museums and Arts, Harrogate Borough Council, BBC - A History of the World - Object : Egyptian Anubis Mask

The bronze Anubis statuette at Chiddingstone is most likely to have been created during the 26th Dynasty. This was the last native dynasty to rule Egypt before the Persian conquest in 525 BC. The dynasty (664-525 BC) was also referred to as the Saite period after the city of Sais, where its pharaohs had their capital, and it marked the beginning of the late period of Ancient Egypt.  This dynasty is also thought to have had a ‘renaissance’ indicated by new temples being built and an increase in contracts as well as a growth in the arts. Notably, there was also a rise in the popularity of nationalism and the gods. Gods related to Osiris saw a surge of admiration. Anubis’ connection to Osiris would explain why many amulets of Anubis are thought to have been from this time.

Bronze amulet of Anubis standing with left leg forward, arms at side, he wears kilt and long wig, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, Museum number LDUCE-UC52930

One of the most famous tasks carried out by Anubis at the judgement ceremony is the ‘weighing of the heart’. It was believed that once you die, before you can enter the afterlife, your heart would be weighed on a scale against a feather by Anubis. If your heart was found to be heavier than the feather, then it would be devoured by demons, and you would not be allowed to enter Ancient Egyptian heaven. However, if it balanced with the feather then you would have it returned and would be led to the final judgement with Osiris who could finally allow you into heaven, an afterlife which meant you would live exactly as you had done on earth. It was this belief that led to valuable items and amulets of gods and goddesses being left in the tombs. It was believed that they could access them in the afterlife to help them on their way.