Rare statue of Anubis sold at Christie’s

CAIRO – 12 July 2022: Christie’s Auctions in London sold an ancient Egyptian bronze statue of the deity Anubis, plated with gold. It spans back to the Late Period, around 664-332 BC.

The statue was valued at £15,000 to £25,000, but was sold for £35,000.

Through marvelous statues, ancient Egyptians often depicted Anubis with a dog or wolf face and a human body. Anubis symbolized death among the ancient Egyptians, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Anubis took the form of a jackal, one of the dog species, as it appears as a black marble statue crouching in front of the tombs. His ears appear large, and he sometimes wears a collar around his neck, which indicates a magical power.

Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Anubis assumed different roles in different contexts. Anubis was depicted as the protector of tombs as early as the First Dynasty (c 3100 - c 2890 BC). Anubis was also responsible for mummification.

By the Middle Kingdom (circa 2055 - 1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris in his role as lord of the underworld. One of his notable roles was as a guide to spirits in the afterlife. He would attend weighing events, during which the "heart was weighed" and determined whether the spirit would be allowed to enter the realm of the dead.

Despite being one of the oldest deities and one of the most frequently mentioned deities in the Egyptian Pantheon, Anubis played no role in Egyptian mythology.