Gilded Bronze Statuette of Anubis Facing a Kneeling Worshiper — Ancient Egypt, Late Period (ca. 680–660 BCE  )

This gilded bronze statuette depicts Anubis, the jackal-headed god of 𝘮𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 and the afterlife  , attentively facing a kneeling worshiper. A hieroglyphic inscription identifies the dedicant as Wdja-Hor-resnet, son of Ankh-pa-khered, linking the offering to a specific individual.

Anubis is one of the most iconic deities of ancient Egyptian mythology, often depicted as a man with the head of a jackal or as a full jackal. He is known as the god of mummification and the afterlife, serving as a guide for souls on their journey to the underworld.

Anubis was believed to protect the dead and oversee the embalming process, ensuring that the deceased were properly prepared for the afterlife. He also played a key role in the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony, where the hearts of the dead were weighed against the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth, to determine their fate. Revered throughout Egyptian history, Anubis embodies both protection and the transformative power of death, symbolizing the Egyptians’ deep belief in life beyond the mortal realm.