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Egyptian Artifacts

Roman Anubis

I love this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 so much! I think it’s gorgeous π“„€!! He’s Roman-ified and wearing a toga!! It’s a really nice piece and one of my favorites in the Vatican! My sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ even joined me for this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the Egyptian god π“ŠΉ of mummification, burial rites and tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“₯/cemeteries. However, when Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was conquered by Rome, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was likened to the Roman god π“ŠΉ Mercury! Mercury had many functions, but one of the traits that related him to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was that Mercury guided souls π“‚“π“‚“π“‚“ of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to the underworld/afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. It was part of Mercury’s function as the messenger god π“ŠΉ!

In this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is even holding a caduceus in his hand – a symbol often associated with Mercury. Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is also looking quite fashionable with his Roman style sandals 𓍿𓃀𓏏𓋸𓏦!

As you all know, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite ancient Egyptian god π“ŠΉ. I also love this statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ because it shows the blending of the Egyptian and Roman religions which happened after Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– was defeated by Rome during the Battle of Actium.

The Battle of Actium (September 12th, 31 B.C.E.) was the last battle of the Roman Republic and gave rise to the Roman Empire (and the fall of Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–). The battle was fought between Octavian and Marc Antony/Cleopatra VII π“ˆŽπ“ƒ­π“‡‹π“―π“Šͺ𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇. With Octavian’s victory, he secured his place as the first Emperor of Rome.