Anubis & the Fate of the Soul

Anubis, the “Conductor of Souls”, is one of the most intriguing Ancient Egyptian gods. His role in helping souls pass to the afterlife was of great importance, as the Egyptians believed that death was an important opportunity for rebirth and eternal happiness. Anubis’ appearance is symbolic, and he is depicted with a black jackal’s head. The colour black was associated with good fortune and rebirth, representing the fertile soils found on the banks of the Nile. Jackals themselves were associated with death, found around burial grounds, and known to eat decomposing flesh.

Anubis’ main role was to weigh the human heart against the feather of Ma’at (the goddess of justice and truth), determining whether a person could continue to the afterlife. If the heart weighed the same as the feather, the soul was free to navigate the underworld and find the afterlife. If it weighed more, the heart was eaten by Ammit (a deity), and the person’s soul would be destroyed. 

Among Anubis’ other roles were to oversee the embalming and mummification of the deceased, and to protect and guide the souls of the dead. He was believed to oversee funerals and ensure that the deceased received the correct rites.

However, Anubis was just one of many moving parts in the complex Egyptian view of the afterlife. He is known as the son of Osiris, god of the afterlife, in some Egyptian myths. 

Anubis and other gods were known to act as guides through Duat. This was the treacherous underworld in which souls would cross lakes of fire and traverse through each of the Twelve Gates of Duat, reciting spells and passwords along the way. Duat, however, was not hell- it was a transitional space for souls to ready themselves for renewal in eternal life. After passing through Duat, souls entered the Field of Reeds, an idealized version of life where souls could enjoy eternal harmony. 

The soul itself was a complicated, three-part entity after death. The Ka remained in the body, as the life-force (showing the importance of mummification). The Ba was free to travel through the underworld, but returned to the body each night. When the Ba reached the Field of Reeds, the two elements came together to form a third: the Akh. The Akh was believed to exist on a higher spiritual plane than the Ka and the Ba–it was fully divine.

The great journey the Ancient Egyptians were prepared to face after death gives us a new perspective on the laborious mummification rituals, intricate tomb inscriptions, and great wealth the most fortunate were buried with. These beliefs formed a huge part of their culture and society, and formed an intricate web of myths, woven together over thousands of years. 

Perhaps the presence of Anubis as a guide and protector on this journey comforted Egyptians as they faced the reality of death, especially with such a long way for their soul to travel.

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