Anubis Figure

1963.188.66

Information

Wooden figure of a recumbent jackal painted black. On a modern wood plinth labelled "ANCIENT EGYPTIAN Most curious & exceedingly rare figure of the SACRED JACKAL (seated). Carved in WOOD coated with BITUMEN. B.C. 1200." Recorded as being previously in the collection of Lord Amhurst. Anubis was a god associated with mummification and protecting the dead. He appeared as either a man with a jackal’s head or as a complete jackal. The Egyptians called Anubis ‘he who is upon his mountain’ as if he were sitting up high guarding the cemetery. During the Late Period small wooden figures of jackals like this were placed upon the lids of canopic chests, placing the dead's internal organs under the protection of Anubis. CONDITION NOTE 1998: Previous repair, wood chipped, bitumen is crystalline and flaking.