For a resident of Ancient Egypt, it was of great importance how it will exist in the kingdom of the dead. There, a place was prepared for him corresponding to his position. The righteous Osiris endowed with special privileges. And the Egyptian god Anubis had to decide where to lead the poor deceased resident of an ancient country. It was in his power to lead the soul of the deceased by the road of the righteous or lower it into the lower kingdoms, where it will forever suffer.
Egyptian god Anubis: view and totems
This celestial was portrayed in the form of a jackal. Sometimes he had a human body, only the head remained from the animal. His power was enormous. All living things tried to please Anubis in order to get a better place in the afterlife. In this case, the Egyptians could not have doubts that life does not end with the death of man. No! She is just beginning. In the kingdom of the dead, where the Egyptian god Anubis ruled, the most important things happened. Every inhabitant of the ancient country aspired to this, considering earthly existence only as a threshold of the main life! Jackals, as well as dogs, were sacred animals associated with this deity. They could not be offended in fear of staying at the gates of the kingdom of the dead, without having received the desired peace in this or that life.
Egyptian god Anubis: featuresNot everything is so simple in the ancient kingdom. The roles of the gods have changed over time. The Egyptian god Anubis (photographs of images - in the article) for almost the entire period of the existence of civilization, according to the Egyptians, led the Duat, the kingdom of the dead. Only in the late period, his power was transferred to Osiris. But even at that time, Anubis did not lose influence in the other world. At first he himself judged the souls of the dead, determining their place in the Duat. Then he began to help Isis and Osiris in this activity. But in any case, the power of Anubis was very great. His servants performed funeral rites, were distributors of places in the necropolises. Everything related to the funeral was in their power.
Mummies and Anubis
One of the main functions of the deity was the protection of the bodies of the deceased. Mummies in Egyptian civilization were treated very reverently. Terrible grief could befall those who dared to disturb the sleep of the dead. Anubis was depicted in pyramids and necropolises in order to protect the peace of the dead. Alive pictures of the Egyptian god Anubis should remind of the prohibition of interference in the kingdom of the dead. Terrible punishment awaited those who disobeyed. Moreover, it is not always physical. The fact is that the beliefs of ancient people were much deeper than modern ones. They could die simply from fear. But the servants of Anubis did not doze off, but sacredly guarded the shrines of their master.
Mysteries of the Pyramids
At the time when the first excavations in Egypt began and scientists became interested in the ancient heritage, many mysterious cases occurred. So, some researchers of the Cheops pyramid died in a mysterious way. It is believed that they were punished by Anubis for daring to enter his domain. The ancient servants of the deity had many secrets that are still not solved by science. Therefore, it is now believed that Anubis was powerful and vindictive, cunning and wise. His strength has not weakened over the centuries. His servants have long since rested in his kingdom, and the living can suffer from the vengeance of God to this day.