Anubis is often referred to as the jackal headed god, but Egyptians seem to have identified other dogs with this god, and at times domestic dogs were buried as sacred animals in the Anubieion catacombs at Saqqara.
Does Egypt worship dogs?
The ancient Egyptians and others of the Near East believed that dogs were spiritual beings, similar to humans, and they were "often associated with particular deities and the powers they wield".
What do dogs represent in Egypt?
Canine deities most often represent death and the afterlife, and are associated with the cult of Osiris (god of the underworld). Before the rise of Osiris, Anubis was the most important funerary deity. He was the god of the dead, associated with embalming and mummification.
Why are dogs important in ancient Egypt?
Dogs in Ancient Egypt. The dog was still very important to the Egyptians, no matter their social status. According to historian Jimmy Dunn, dogs "served a role in hunting, as guard and police dogs, in military actions, and as household pets" (1). The Egyptian word for dog was iwiw which referenced their bark (Dunn, 1).
What did the Egyptians think about dogs?
Dogs were considered to be much less important and it was a common Ancient Egyptian insult to refer to someone as a dog. Some Ancient Egyptians obviously enjoyed the companionship offered by their dogs, and dogs were sometimes mummified and buried with their masters.
