Anubis Egyptian God: Guardian of the Dead and Protector of Tombs
With his sleek black jackal head and watchful golden eyes, Anubis is one of the most immediately recognizable figures in the entire Egyptian pantheon — and one of the most ancient. As the god of mummification, the guardian of tombs, and the guide of souls through the Egyptian underworld, Anubis was among the most important and widely worshipped deities in Egyptian religion. He was not a god to be feared — he was a god to be trusted with the most precious thing a person possessed: their eternal soul.
The Appearance of Anubis
Anubis was depicted as a black jackal lying in a watchful recumbent position, or as a man with the head of a black jackal. The black color was chosen for profound symbolic reasons: black was the color of the fertile Nile soil, representing regeneration, fertility, and new life, and also the color of the preserved mummy, linking Anubis visually to the promise of resurrection.
Anubis and Mummification
The most important role of Anubis was as the patron and overseer of mummification. He was believed to have personally mummified Osiris after his murder by Set, establishing the divine precedent for all subsequent mummification. Learn the full story in Ancient Egyptian Mummies: Secrets of the Afterlife and Egyptian Mythology: Stories That Shaped a Civilization.
The Weighing of the Heart
Anubis personally conducted the deceased to the scales and tended the balance as the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at — one of the most powerful scenes in all of Egyptian art, reproduced throughout the Book of the Dead. Learn about related symbols in Eye of Horus Meaning and Djed Pillar Egyptian Meaning.
Bring Anubis Into Your Home
Honor the guardian of the dead with our handcrafted Anubis statues:
- Anubis God of the Dead Bronze Statue — Standing Anubis in rich dark bronze, hand-finished. $52.
- Lord of the West – Recumbent Anubis Figurine — Modeled after protective tomb guardians from the Valley of the Kings. $51.
- Anubis Guardian Statue Set – Trio of Jackals — Three recumbent Anubis guardians in graduated sizes. $54.
For full buying guidance, read Anubis Statue: The Jackal God Guardian for Your Home and Egyptian Deity Statues: Choosing the Right God for Your Home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anubis
What is Anubis the god of?
Anubis is the god of mummification, the afterlife, the dead, and the protection of graves and tombs. He guides souls through the underworld and presides over the Weighing of the Heart judgment.
Why does Anubis have a jackal head?
Jackals were associated with death and cemeteries in ancient Egypt. The black color represented the fertile Nile soil and the promise of regeneration.
Is Anubis good or evil?
Anubis is neither — he is a fair and impartial divine judge and protector, ensuring the dead are treated justly and their souls guided safely through the afterlife.