Statue of Anubis

Anubis (also Anup or Inpu) was the ancient Egyptian god of the dead, mummification, and burial grounds, depicted as a jackal-headed man or as a jackal. He guarded the dead, guided souls on their journey to the afterlife, and oversaw the ceremony of weighing the heart against the feathers of Ma'ata. He was also the patron of embalmers and was associated with the ritual of mummification. Anubis accompanied the souls of the deceased to the afterlife and protected them on their journey through the darkness of the underworld. He is considered the inventor of embalming and the patron saint of embalmers, who took care of the preparation of bodies. In the Hall of Two Truths, he oversaw the ceremony of weighing the heart, where it was compared to the symbol of Ma'at (truth and justice). His association with jackals led to his identification as a protector of burial grounds.