GRGR(22) - Anubis

[David Morris]

http://socsci.colorado.edu/LAB/GODS/anubis.html

Anubis

Egyptian god of the dead, represented as a black jackal or dog, or as a man 
with the head of a dog or jackal. His parents were usually given as Re in 
combination with either Nephthys or Isis. After the early period of the Old 
Kingdom, he was superseded by Osiris as god of the dead, being relegated to 
a supporting role as a god of the funeral cult and of the care of the dead. 
The black colour represented the colour of human corpses after they had 
undergone the embalming process. In the Book of the Dead, he was depicted as 
presiding over the weighing of the heart of the deceased in the Hall of the 
Two Truths. In his role as psychopomp he was referred to as the "conductor 
of souls". The Greeks later identified him with their god Hermes, resulting 
in the composite deity Hermanubis. His principal sanctuary was at the 
necropolis in Memphis and in other cities. Anubis was also known as Khenty- 
Imentiu - "chief of the westerners" - a reference to the Egyptian belief 
that the realm of the dead lay to the west in association with the setting 
sun, and to their custom of building cemeteries on the west bank of the 
Nile.

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