The Egyptian jackal god Anubis has numerous roles connected with the afterlife, including those of embalmer, custodian, and guardian of the dead. The cult of Anubis remained popular throughout the Greek and Roman periods. We often see him in the generic role of divine protector in medical amulets, particularly in uterine gemstones: along with Osiris, he appears in mummy form. The artifacts presented here illustrate the long-term popularity of this god in religious and magical practices. Of particular interest is a gemstone showing a jackal-headed Anubis holding a scepter with a jackal head in one hand. In the other hand is a situla — a handled vessel used in religious ritual. Written in reverse is the Greek inscription Tyche, meaning “good luck.”
Anubis
