Mask of Anubis, New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty, ca. 1292–1189 B.C., Louvre Museum

This ceremonial mask of Anubis was worn by priests during the embalming process in mummification rituals. The jackal god’s ears are always shown upright, symbolizing vigilance and his role as guardian of the necropolis.

Anubis masks, crafted from materials such as wood, gold, or other precious metals, were used in funerary rites to invoke the deity’s protection and guidance for the deceased. In Egyptian mythology, Anubis not only assisted in the mummification of Osiris but also extended this divine service to mortals, ensuring their rebirth in the afterlife.

Known to the Greeks as Anubis, this jackal-headed god appears in Egyptian tradition as early as the 1st Dynasty (ca. 3100–2890 B.C.). He was depicted either as a black dog or as a man with a jackal’s head. As lord of the necropolis, Anubis presided over embalming, safeguarded graves, and guided souls into the afterlife, presenting them before Osiris for the weighing of the heart.

During funerary ceremonies, a priest wearing the mask embodied Anubis himself. As “the one in the embalming tent,” Anubis is often shown leaning over the body of the deceased or supporting the mummy during the Opening of the Mouth ritual—ensuring that the dead might breathe, speak, and see again in the afterlife.