The most famous dog in mythology: Anubis

Anubis, recognizable by his black head with a long snout and erect ears, is one of the oldest Egyptian gods and best known to the general public.

It's hard to know if it's a dog, because each of its physical characteristics seems to belong to a different animal: fox ears, lean greyhound body, jackal tail, etc.

In any case, Anubis clearly belongs to the group of canine deities.

Sometimes represented as a large black canine lying on its stomach, or as a man with a canine face, he is a major funerary god of ancient Egypt, watching over necropolises and embalmers.

Anubis, guardian of the dead

It is assumed that the association between canids and the funerary world is linked to the fact that many canine species are scavengers that willingly wandered in cemeteries.

In addition, canids bury their food, and this had not escaped Egyptian observers who saw in this the same gesture as for burial.

Another major role of this deity is directly linked to the role of canines from Antiquity: Anubis is associated with the protection of herds of cattle, as dogs were already at the time.

Horned animals being sacrificed during funeral rituals, Anubis plays a dual role, master of dairy cows or fighting bulls, and master of burial.

He watches over the ritual slaughters, taking on the role of the sacrificer or chief butcher, and over the distribution of the offerings,

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A god of great renown

Although most of the funerary gods of ancient Egypt are usually worshiped only at the local level, Anubis enjoys a unique popularity because his trace has been found throughout Egypt, whether among the peasants the poorest or among the greatest pharaohs.

He even had a major influence beyond the empire and close figures can be found elsewhere in Africa, notably in Nubia, but also in the Greek world, particularly in the kingdom of Macedonia, where he is the guide of souls after death in the context of Isiac cults.

In Rome, on the other hand, his appearance mixing human and animal forms is considered ridiculous and disgusting.

Virgil, among others, considers him a laughable deity without any comparison with the Roman gods.

The first Christian authors are not more tender,

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