The dog is a symbol of the ancient Egyptian god Anubis, the ruler of the underworld. Since the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians are rooted in the worship of totems, at first Anubis was depicted as a black dog. However, with the development of anthropocentrism, he turned into a man with a dog's head. The cult of the god Anubis occupied an important place in the daily life of the Egyptians.
Patron saint of cemeteries and necropolises
All beliefs associated with the afterlife, from time immemorial, have been imbued with awe and mysticism. Anubis was responsible for an important burial ritual in ancient Egyptian culture. He prepared the body of the deceased for embalming and mummification. Images of Anubis have survived on many tombs and burial chambers. Statues of the god of the dead adorn the temple of Osiris and catacomb tombs in Alexandria, and the seal of the ancient city of Thebes depicts a dog over nine captives.
The amulet with the image of a dog symbolizes the magic of the other world and protects the soul on its last journey.
The image of Anubis next to the body of the deceased was necessary for the further journey of the soul. It was believed that the god with the head of a dog meets the human soul at the gates of the afterlife and escorts it to the courtroom. There the embodiment of the soul - the heart - was weighed on a special scale, on the other side of which lay the feather of the goddess of truth Maat.
City of dogs
The city of Kinopolis (from Greek - "city of the dog") was dedicated to Anubis. The wife of Anubis, Input, was also revered there. She was also portrayed with a dog's head.
In this city, dogs were protected by law, they could enter any house, and no one could raise a hand against them. The death penalty was imposed for killing a dog. If a resident of another city killed a dog from Kinopol, this could serve as a pretext for declaring war.
The Pharaoh Hound still exists today, and its characteristic sharp muzzle with large, erect ears is very similar to the ancient images of Anubis.
They loved dogs not only in Kinopol. Herodotus testified that the Egyptians plunged into deep mourning in the event of the death of a domestic dog, shaved their heads and refused to eat. The embalmed body of the dog was buried in a special cemetery, and the funeral ceremony was accompanied by loud sobs.
It is not by chance that the dog has become a symbol of the peace of the departed. The Egyptians believed that dogs could sense death. A dog howling in the night meant that Anubis was preparing to lead someone's soul into the afterlife. It was believed that dogs saw ghosts as clearly as living ones, so in the underworld the dogs guarded the gates, preventing the souls of the dead from escaping back.
The role of Anubis in the ancient Egyptian pantheon was similar - he guarded and guarded the gods. No wonder his name means "Standing in front of the palace of the gods." Also, Anubis ruled judgment among the gods, and even an executioner in ancient Egypt put on a mask with the head of a wild dog, symbolizing the hand of God in the execution of the sentence.
