When did the Greek name Anubis arrive in Egypt?
The Greek name Anubis arrived in Egypt around the 7th century BC. Before that date, priests and scribes used the root word inp to mean decay within their language.
Questions about Anubis
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the parents of Anubis according to different ancient texts?
Historians note that parentage varied widely, sometimes listing Ra as father or Nephthys as mother depending on the text source. The Coffin Texts written c. 2181, 2055 BC described him as the son of Hesat or Bastet rather than Osiris. Later traditions claimed he was the illegitimate son of Nephthys adopted by Isis according to Plutarch writing c. 40, 120 AD.
What is the significance of the black coloration of Anubis?
Black coloration symbolized regeneration and life rather than representing the actual fur of an African jackal. This hue also reflected the discolouration of corpses treated with natron and resinous substances during mummification. The fertile silt of the Nile River was black, so Egyptians linked the color to fertility and rebirth possibilities.
How did Greeks merge Anubis with Hermes during the Ptolemaic period?
The Ptolemaic period spanning 350 to 30 BC saw Egypt ruled by Greek pharaohs who merged Anubis with Hermes into Hermanubis. Cynopolis served as the cult center for this fusion, a place whose name translates to city of dogs in Greek. Apuleius wrote about continued worship of this combined deity in Rome during at least the 2nd century AD.
When did Osiris replace Anubis as the primary lord of the underworld?
By the Middle Kingdom between 2000 and 1700 BC, Osiris replaced Anubis as the primary lord of the underworld. Tomb paintings from the Roman era starting in 30 BC show him holding hands to guide deceased persons toward Osiris.