This limestone ππππ Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ statue πππππΎ was found near the Sacred Animal Necropolis at Saqqara (Memphis π ππ€πππ΄π). The Sacred Animal Necropolis housed thousands π²π²π² of mummified animals such as falcons πππ‘π π¦, baboons, ibises πππ €π¦ and bulls/cows π€πππππ¦. This piece is dated to the Late Period – Ptolemaic Period (664β30 B.C.E.).
Although mummified jackals ππΏππ₯π¦ were not found in the area, statues πππππΎπͺ of Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ have been found most likely because Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ is the god πΉ of mummification π΄π§ππ ±π and embalming π΄π§ππ ±π, so it would make sense that there would be statues πππππΎπͺ of him in the vicinity of this large necropolis. It is thought that Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ statues πππππΎπͺ such as this were used to guard embalming tents.
Interestingly, this piece was originally painted ππ black ππ , but through time it has lost its coloring! Itβs hard to see in my pictures ππ ±ππ¦ (the MET really needs better lighting – the galleries are so dark) but you can still see remnants of some of the black ππ paint π¨ππ ±ππΈπ¦ on the statue πππππΎ!
I was very excited to see this statue πππππΎ, because there is a similar one in the Petrie Museum in London! I love seeing similar pieces in different museums around the world! It is really cool to see pieces that are similar across museum collections – I can’t explain why, but I just find it incredible! Also (no surprise), I love anything Anubis πππͺπ ±π£, so of course I absolutely love this statue and I need to visit it every time I go to the MET!
Fun fact! There are no temples ππππ¦ dedicated to Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ because all tombs ππ«πππ¦ and large burial areas were considered βtemplesβ to worship πΌπΏπ’ Anubis πππͺπ ±π£ in! It makes so much sense because he is the god πΉ of tombs ππ«πππ¦ and mummification π΄π§ππ ±π!Β
