Anubis Figure

Carved wooden figure of a recumbent jackal. Head missing. Peg passing through the middle for attachment. Traces of black resin on the surface. 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: Incomplete, loss of pigment/bitumen, surface dirt. Wellcome Historical Medical Museum accession no. 22937: Lot 395. Three carved wood ancient Egyptian cats on wood bases 9" high, 5 " and 4 1/2 ". Three carved wood jackals, 5 " long, 8" and 3 3/4" long. Lot 398. Three jackals 5 1/2", 5 3/4" and 9", purchased at Stevens', London, 23 November 1920 lots 395 and 398".