Tag: gods and goddesses

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Egyptian Artifacts

Details of Anubis on a Roman Sarcophagus

For my whole life I have called this piece the β€œRoman Anubis Mummy!!!”

As anyone who has followed me for a while knows, I love absolutely anything that has to do with Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣! He has been my favorite Egyptian god π“ŠΉ since I started learning about mythology at six 𓏿 years old! Since I was a kid who was obsessed with mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ too, it makes sense that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, god π“ŠΉ of mummification and cemeteries would be a favorite of mine!

What is interesting about this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 though is that he is depicted with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή. Thoth π“…€π“€­ is usually represented with the moon (as he is god π“ŠΉ of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή along with hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, writing π“Ÿπ“›π“₯, wisdom etc.), while Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 connection to the lunar disc π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή is not well understood. One of the earliest images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 with the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή actually comes from Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐, in the scene that β€œconfirms” that Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ– was Hatshepsut’s π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ father 𓇋𓏏𓀀, thus she had the divine right to rule. Other scenes connecting Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 to the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή exist, but the relationship between two 𓏻 are not well understood and it is something I wish we knew more about!

This is the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of a woman π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“ named Artemidora who lived in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– during the Roman Period (A.D 90-100). The text above Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 reads β€œArtemidora, daughter of Harpokras, died untimely, aged 27. Farewell.” The images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 taken of her mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 using radiographic techniques confirm this age of death. Big thanks the @metmuseum for the translation, because while I can read and translate hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ I certainly do not know Greek!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Bronze Statues of Deities

There’s a lot that I love about this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 – 1) obviously I love the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ, 2) it’s in the Petrie Museum, and 3) which I think is the best part – you can see me and Nonno’s reflections in the mirror! We are squished together both trying to take pictures 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of all the artifacts! We spent a big part of that day like that and I wish I could go back and re-live that day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 again. So while this is not the best picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏 artistically speaking, it really means a lot to me. While I am certainly no artist, I can fluently read hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ (and have been for 23 years) so it’s all good πŸ˜‚ – can’t be good at everything!

From the left, the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ represent Horus π“…ƒπ“€­(or Harpokrates, the Greek version of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­), two 𓏻 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ (a non-royal man who became deified – responsible for the construction of Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid amongst many other things), the fertility god π“ŠΉ Min π“‹Šπ“ŠΎπ“€, and Khnum π“ŽΈπ“π“€­ (one of the oldest deities, god π“ŠΉ of the source of the Nile π“‡‹π“π“‚‹π“…±π“ˆ—π“ˆ˜π“ˆ‡π“Ί, fertility and was thought to have made humans out of clay from his potters wheel).

The Bronze Age started due to the rise in the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. Due to war and trade, bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ was able to come to Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– around 700 B.C.E. and replace the traditional stone π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“‚‹π“Šͺ and clay statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“ͺ. The bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ pieces are great antiquities because they can preserve small details over long periods of time. Bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statuary π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ became very popular starting around the Third Intermediate Period (26th Dynasty), and became very abundant in the Ptolemaic Period, which resulted in mass production and a loss of craftsmanship and quality.

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Inscription – “Before Anubis”

Here is a piece of an inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž– from a Middle Kingdom sarcophagus π“ŽŸπ“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“π“Š­ at the MET.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!!

𓐍𓂋 – Before
𓃣 – β€œAnubis”

A very simple inscription π“Ž˜π“…±π“Ž–, but something that was important for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 since Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 was tasked with the protection of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾! In order for ancient Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ to journey through the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 and eventually reach the Field of Reeds π“‡π“π“ˆ…π“‡‹π“„Ώπ“‚‹π“…±π“†°π“Š–, the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾/body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 needed to remain intact! So a person definitely wanted to be near Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒!

Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– Can be written many different ways! Here are some common variations:
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓃣
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺπ“…±
π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒
𓃣
𓃀
𓁒

Much like in English and other languages, the same words could have different spellings! In ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, most of the time the different spellings had to do with the space that was available on the piece that was being inscribed!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Anubis Engraving on a Sarcophagus

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has been my favorite god π“ŠΉ since I was a child π“π“‡Œπ“€•. Why is he my favorite? Here are some fun facts about Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 so you can see why!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is the god of mummification, graveyards/cemeteries, funerals, tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ and a bunch of other things associated with death 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Even as a kid π“π“‡Œπ“€•, I was fascinated by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ and the process of mummification, so by default Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is my favorite!

The name π“‚‹π“ˆ–β€œAnubis” is actually the Hellenistic version of his name π“‚‹π“ˆ– – the Egyptians π“†Žπ“π“€€π“π“ͺ called him Inpw.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is usually represented by the jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ or having the head 𓁢𓏀 of a jackal π“Šƒπ“„Ώπ“ƒ€π“ƒ₯ because these canines were often found in cemeteries.

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 has no temples π“‰Ÿπ“π“‰π“¦ dedicated to him because every tomb/cemetery was considered a β€œtemple” to Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣!

Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 can be written a bunch of different ways in hieroglyphs: π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓁒, π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, 𓃣.

Here are some titles that Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 is commonly associated with. His name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears with these a lot in hieroglyphic inscriptions:
π“Άπ“Ίπ“ˆ‹ 𓆑 – β€œUpon his hill”
𓏅 π“ŠΉ 𓉱 – β€œIn front at the God’s booth” (shrine)
π“‡‹π“Άπ“…±π“π“Žπ“Š– – β€œHe who is in the mummy wrappings”

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Egyptian Artifacts

The Ba Bird

In order to exist, a human needed to have five 𓏾 essential elements: the body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό, the shadow 𓆄𓏏𓅱𓋼, the Ba 𓅑𓏀, the Ka (soul/life force) 𓂓𓏀, and the name π“‚‹π“ˆ–.

The Ba 𓅑𓏀 is the impression that an individual makes on others – everything except the physical body π“Ž›π“‚π“„Ό. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 can also be thought of as an individual’s personality. When a person died, the Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the only part of the person that would be able to travel out of the tomb π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰, but it did have to return eventually to be reunited with the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 was the part of the person that lived on after death 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

This particular Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ is dated to the Ptolemaic Period (c. 332–30 B.C.E.). Ba 𓅑𓏀 statues π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύπ“¦ like this one pictured were popular to place in tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦ during this time period – either they were attached to coffins π“‹΄π“…±π“Ž›π“π“†±π“¦ or added as an attachment to a stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ.

The details on this Ba 𓅑𓏀 statue π“„šπ“ˆ–π“π“­π“€Ύ are absolutely beautiful π“„€. The Ba 𓅑𓏀 has a sun disk 𓇳𓏀 on its head 𓁢𓏀 and is wearing a broad collar π“…±π“‹΄π“π“ŽΊπ“‹ around its neck. It is in great condition even though it is made out of wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 (wood is organic and can decay very quickly) and the details are in paint and gold π“‹žπ“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰π“ƒ‰ leaf!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Amulets at the British Museum

The ancient Egyptians used amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ a lot in both their daily life and afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐! No matter who was wearing it, amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ had the same function: to invoke magical protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the wearer! Amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ could represent gods π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ and goddesses π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“, everyday objects, hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ, plants 𓆾𓆰𓆰𓆰, and many other things!

In this display at the British Museum, there are a bunch of different amulets π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†π“ͺ featured! The Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ amulet (3) is considered unusual because it shows Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ sitting on a throne wearing the Atef crown π“‹š, just how he would be depicted in the Book of the Dead or on various reliefs. The Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­ amulets were the most popular form of funerary jewelry and were tasked with overall protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ for the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱.

The Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 amulet (4) was most likely only used by the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 because of Anubis’ π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣 association with mummification and tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰. It most likely protected π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ the body of the dead to ensure the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 could make it to the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

The Triad Amulet (5) (sometimes referred to as the Ossirian Triad) is a representation of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of healing and magic), Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ (god π“ŠΉ of the sky and the protector of the ruler of Egypt), and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 (β€œMistress of the House” and associated with vultures). Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ is the mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐 of Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, the sister π“Œ’π“ˆ–π“ of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇, and the wife π“ˆŸπ“ of Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† is representative of Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯ and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇 protecting Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ and that protective power extends to the wearer. This amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† became very popular during the 26th Dynasty, and was usually used by mummies 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾π“ͺ for protection π“…“π“‚π“Ž‘π“€œ on their journey into the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. The amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…† was either placed on the chest, stomach 𓂋𓄣𓏻, or the thighs of the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾.

The carpenter’s tools π“Š‹ (16) are interesting because they might have guaranteed eternal 𓆖 righteousness and equilibrium. This is an example of an everyday object that had magical powers when an amulet π“Šπ“Šͺπ“…†! These would have been placed on a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾!

The staircase amulets π“Š (17) represent the primordial mound from which all life π“‹Ήπ“ˆ–π“ was created. Here is the short version of the myth because it can be long/complicated and there are many versions:

The ancient Egyptian creation myth begins with endless dark water without any purpose or matter. Out of this dark water π“ˆ—, rose the primordial hill and the god π“ŠΉ Atum π“‡‹π“π“‚Ÿπ“€­ (or Ptah π“Šͺπ“π“Ž›π“± in some of the myths). Then with his own shadow, Atum π“‡‹π“π“‚Ÿπ“€­ gave birth to Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 (god π“ŠΉ of the atmosphere/principles of life) and Tefenet π“π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“†— (goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of moisture/order). Since there was only the primordial hill, Shu 𓇋𓅱𓀭 and Tefenet π“π“†‘π“ˆ–π“π“†— gave birth to Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭 (god of the Earth 𓇾𓇾) and Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ (goddess of the sky π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯/cosmos). Geb 𓅭𓃀𓀭 and Nut π“Œπ“π“‡―π“€­ eventually gave birth to the more recognizable gods – Osiris π“Ήπ“Š¨π“€­, Isis π“Š¨π“π“₯, Seth π“Šƒπ“π“„‘π“£, and Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇.

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Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Sandstone Relief of the God’s Wife of Amun Making an Offering to Amun-Ra

This sandstone π“‚‹π“…±π“‚§π“π“Œ—π“ˆ™ relief is dated to the Third Intermediate Period (Dynasty 25, c. 710-670 B.C.E.) and is most likely from Karnak. It depicts the God’s Wife of Amun, named Amunirdis I, making an offering π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ𓏏𓏔𓏦 of Maat π“™π“Œ΄π“‚£π“π“¦ to Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί. Standing behind Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί is the god π“ŠΉ Khonsu π“π“ˆ–π“‡“π“…±π“€― (god of the moon π“‡‹π“‚π“Ž›π“‡Ή) who is the son π“…­ of Amun-Ra π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί and the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Mut 𓏏𓄿𓀭.

In the Third Intermediate Period, the β€œGod’s Wife of Amun” was a very powerful position to be in – at some points, they even had as much power as the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻! The women who had this title were either the wife π“‡“π“π“π“ˆž, mother 𓅐𓏏𓁐, or daughter 𓅭𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 and would be in charge of performing necessary rituals at festivals and religious ceremonies.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ί – Amun-Ra
π“‡“π“π“ˆ– – King of the
π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ – Gods

π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³π“Ίπ“‡“π“π“ˆ–π“ŠΉπ“ŠΉπ“ŠΉ – β€œAmun-Ra, King of the Gods.”

Here’s the inscription directly next to Amun-Ra:

π“‰Όπ“ŠΉ – Great God
π“ŽŸ – Lord
π“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 – Sky

π“‰Όπ“ŠΉπ“ŽŸπ“Šͺ𓏏𓇯 – β€œGreat God, Lord of the Sky.”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Stela of a Man Named Ihefy

This is a simple stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ that is painted in really nice bright colors on wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺! One of the reasons I like this piece so much is that it has retained its colors through time! This is dated between the 22nd and 25th Dynasties.

The stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ depicts a man π“Šƒπ“€€π“€ named Ihefy simply worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒/adoring the god π“ŠΉ Horus(?) π“…ƒπ“€­. While the museum description says the god π“ŠΉ is Horus π“…ƒπ“€­, I question that because of the sun disc 𓇳𓏀 appearing on the falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head. Usually, Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 will appear as a falcon π“ƒ€π“‡‹π“Ž‘π“…„ head wearing a sun disc 𓇳𓏀. Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ is usually depicted wearing the crown of Upper Egypt π“‹‘, Lower Egypt π“‹”, or both π“‹– (most common).

However, since this is a later time period, this could be the god π“ŠΉ Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€, who is a combination of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛 and Horus π“…ƒπ“€­ into a single deity. I believe this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because of the sun-disc 𓇳𓏀 crown that has a Uraeus 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆗 at the front, along with the fact that Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ is holding a flail π“Œ… and scepter π“Œ€, which is another common way to depict him.

The main reason why I think this is a depiction of Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€? The hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ! Ra-Horakhty’s π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ name π“‚‹π“ˆ– appears right above him on the stela π“Ž—π“…±π“†“π“‰Έ!

We know that Ihefy is worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒 Ra-Horakhty π“…Šπ“”π“”π“€ because his arms are in the raised position! The determinative for the word worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 is even a man with his arms raised π“€’!

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Egyptian Artifacts

Linen Textile in Honor of Hathor

This is a linen 𓍱 textile that was made in honor of the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ Hathor 𓉑 and was meant to be placed at her shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰ at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦π“₯𓉐.

In the beautifully π“„€ colored images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the right side of the linen 𓍱, we can see Hathor 𓉑 in her cow 𓄀𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form standing on a boat 𓂧π“Šͺπ“π“Šž, encompassed by a shrine π“π“Šƒπ“…“π“‚œπ“‰, and surrounded by lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸. Below Hathor’s 𓉑 head 𓁢𓏀, stands a small figure in black π“†Žπ“…“ that is representative of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ. We know that it’s Montuhotep II π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ because of the cartouche next to the small figure!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ!
π“ŠΉπ“„€ – Great/Perfect God
(π“‡³π“Š€π“ŽŸ) – Nebhapetra (Montuhotep II)

Next to Hathor 𓉑, the hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ read:
𓉑 – Hathor
π“ŽŸπ“π“‡―- Lady/Mistress of Heaven
π“·π“Š“π“‹†π“π“Š– – Chief One of Thebes

On the left side, the first man standing before 𓐍𓂋 Hathor 𓉑 has his arms raised, which is to represent him worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀒 the goddess π“ŠΉπ“.

Hathor’s 𓉑 name π“‚‹π“ˆ– in hieroglyphs π“ŠΉπ“Œƒπ“ͺ is quite unique compared to some of the other gods/goddesses. Her name π“‚‹π“ˆ– is composed of a composite hieroglyph π“ŠΉπ“Œƒ which literally translates to β€œHouse of Horus.” Hathor 𓉑 was the goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of women π“Šƒπ“π“‚‘π“π“π“ͺ, motherhood, joy, music π“‰”π“‡Œπ“†Έ, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess π“ŠΉπ“ of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

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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.