Death gods have existed in mythologies across the world and throughout history. They are supernatural beings associated with death and the afterlife. Many cultures have their own versions of these deities that represent different aspects of death. When examining which death god is the oldest, we have to look back to some of the earliest known mythologies and religions. The oldest clear examples of death gods date back over 5,000 years.
In the beginning paragraphs of this article, we will provide quick answers to key questions about the oldest death gods:
– The oldest known death god is Anubis from ancient Egyptian mythology. Anubis dates back to around 3100 BCE.
– Other contenders for oldest death gods include Ereshkigal from Sumerian mythology from 3000 BCE and Yama from Hindu and Buddhist traditions from around 1500 BCE.
– Anubis stands out as the oldest as there is clear archaeological and historical evidence showing depictions and worship of Anubis in ancient Egypt dating back over 5,000 years.
– Some of Anubis’s key roles included guiding souls to the afterlife, overseeing mummification, and judging souls on their journey to the underworld.
– Anubis has the head of a jackal and a human body in ancient Egyptian artistic depictions. The jackal was likely connected to death and the afterlife because jackals were scavengers of cemeteries in Egypt.
A Brief History of Anubis
Anubis is the Greek name for the ancient Egyptian god “Anpu” or “Inpu,” meaning “to decay.” He dates back to the Old Kingdom period in Egypt, starting around 2700 BCE. However, archaeologists date artistic and written depictions of Anubis as early as 3100 BCE. This makes him at least over 5,000 years old.
The Egyptian god Anubis was one of the most important deities in the ancient Egyptian pantheon for over 3,000 years through multiple dynasties. He was the god of the afterlife, mummification, embalming, and cemeteries. When souls were journeying to the underworld after death, it was Anubis who decided if they were worthy to pass into the afterlife. Without his approval, one’s soul would be destroyed. Anubis was also the protector of graves and tombs in ancient Egypt.
Key Roles and Importance of Anubis
Some of Anubis’s most significant roles and responsibilities included:
– Guiding souls on their journey to the underworld after death. He helped lead them through the transit between life and the afterlife.
– Overseeing the mummification and protection of bodies after death. This was an essential ritual for safe passage to the underworld.
– Judging souls at their final judgment as they enter the underworld. Anubis would weigh the heart of the deceased against the feather of Ma’at to determine their fate.
– Protecting and presiding over burials, tombs, graves, and necropolises. Tombs often had inscriptions calling upon Anubis for protection.
– Associating with lost souls and the marginalized in society. Anubis held a special place for outcasts.
Anubis was crucial for guiding souls safely to the afterlife and approving their right to pass into the underworld. Without his assistance, one’s soul was doomed. This gave Anubis great religious importance in ancient Egypt.
Depictions of Anubis in Art and Architecture
Anubis is most often depicted in ancient Egyptian art as a man with the head of a jackal/canine and holding an ankh (the key of life) and a flail (for punishment). The earliest artistic renderings of Anubis date back to around 3100 BCE, though there is limited evidence from this early period. More abundant examples of Anubis in Egyptian art and architecture started appearing around 2500 BCE.
Anubis is featured on numerous tomb and temple walls, on papyrus documents, in statuary, and in Egyptian jewelry and ornaments:
– Tombs – Many ancient tomb walls have paintings of Anubis presiding over burials or guiding souls. Tombs of prominent figures sometimes had entire shrines dedicated to Anubis.
– Temples – Major temple complexes across Egypt included shrines and chambers devoted to Anubis due to his important funerary roles.
– Statues – Bronze and stone statues of Anubis guarding tombs and watching over the deceased are common archaeological finds. Statues ranged from just a few inches tall to giant monuments.
– Jewelry – Anubis amulets were popular in necklaces, bracelets, and rings to invoke Anubis’s powers of protection.
– Papyrus – Anubis frequently appeared in funerary texts and illustrations on papyrus documents placed in burials.
Origins and History of Anubis
The origins and early history of Anubis are somewhat obscure as he dates back to the beginnings of recorded Egyptian history around 3100 BCE during the First Dynasty period. However, historians have pieced together an account of Anubis’s roots:
Earliest Mentions
The earliest known mentions of Anubis date back to the Pyramid Texts from the 24th to 23rd centuries BCE. These are some of the oldest religious inscriptions in the world. In these texts, Anubis is mentioned playing a role laying the deceased king into his tomb and situating his burial.
Predynastic Period
It’s thought Anubis may have roots dating back to the Predynastic Period of Egypt from around 6000 BCE to 3100 BCE. During this time, tribes along the Nile started developing complexes rituals around burying their dead. This is when early mummification practices likely emerged, which Anubis eventually oversaw as a god.
Connections to Dogs and Jackals
The figure of Anubis emerged as dogs and jackals were seen as liminal figures guiding souls to the afterlife. These canines scavenged in graveyards and thus were thought to be connected to death. As early Egyptians began mummifying their dead, Anubis took form as a jackal-headed god presiding over this process.
Assimilation of Local Gods
Egyptologists believe regional jackal or dog gods popular in local areas were gradually assimilated into the figure of Anubis as a countrywide death god during the Early Dynastic Period as Egypt was unifying politically. His cult arose as Egyptians from across the country adopted common funerary practices.
Comparison with Other Early Death Gods
While Anubis stands out as the oldest named and evidence-supported death god, there are a few other ancient death deities from nearby regions that share similar traits and origins:
Ereshkigal – Sumerian Goddess of the Underworld
– Dates back to around 3000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia
– Goddess of Irkalla, the Sumerian underworld who judged arriving souls
– Depicted on tombs from city of Mari dating to 2900 BCE
– Responsible for expansion of underworld from place of darkness to more organizaed realm
Yama – Hindu God of Death
– Dates back to around 1500 BCE in Indo-Iranian traditions
– Appears in early Vedic literature and the Rig Veda as first mortal to die
– Presides over the netherworld and judges dead souls
– Earliest depictions found in hymns of the Atharvaveda around 1000 BCE
Osiris – Egyptian God of the Afterlife
– Emerged in Egyptian myth by 2500 BCE and known from Pyramid Texts
– God of underworld and judge of dead but not specifically death god
– Co-ruled underworld with Anubis as more powerful netherworld deity
– Depicted with green skin symbolizing rebirth
| Deity | Culture | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Anubis | Ancient Egypt | 3100 BCE – 400 CE |
| Ereshkigal | Sumerian | 3000 BCE – 400 BCE |
| Yama | Hindu/Vedic | 1500 BCE – Present |
| Osiris | Ancient Egypt | 2500 BCE – 400 CE |
This table summarizes the timeline for some of the main ancient death gods compared to Anubis. It shows Anubis’s precedence as the earliest named and evidenced death deity.
Attributes of Anubis
Anubis has several key attributes integral to his role as the ancient Egyptian god of the dead:
Jackal Head
Almost always depicted in art with the black head of a jackal or dog. Connected to jackals scavenging in grave sites.
Human Body
Given a human form clothed in white linen below the neck to enable complex funerary tasks.
Flail and Crook
Carried a flail as an instrument of punishment and crook for guiding souls.
Ankh and Was Scepter
Held an ankh symbolizing life and divine was scepter representing power.
Black, Red, and Gold Colors
Frequently shown with black, red, or gold fur, skin, or clothing. Black for decay, red for vitality, gold for divinity.
Funerary Roles
Served as guardian, guide, overseer, and judge of the dead in their journey to the afterlife.
Psychopomp
Acted as a psychopomp – a being who guides souls from life to the afterlife.
Anubis vs. Other Egyptian Death Gods
While Anubis was the original ancient Egyptian death god, over time other major death deities emerged:
| Deity | Realm and Roles | Depictions |
|---|---|---|
| Anubis | Mummification, guardian of cemeteries and tombs, guide of souls, judge of the dead | Jackal-headed man, black fur |
| Osiris | Ruler and judge of underworld, god of resurrection and fertility of soil | Wrapped as mummy, green skin |
| Nephthys | Protector of the dead, assisted in embalming, sister of Osiris | Winged goddess, black or green skin |
While Anubis retained his early roles, Osiris took form as a more powerful lord of the underworld and judge. Nephthys was associated with funerary duties in supporting roles. But Anubis maintained his importance in mummification and guiding souls for millennia.
Temples to Anubis
As the gatekeeper to the underworld, Anubis was honored in many of the most sacred tomb and temple sites across Egypt:
Embalming House at Saqqara
One of Anubis’s first temples from 2500 BCE with pools for mummification near Memphis.
Catacombs of Kom Ombo
Labyrinth catacombs with burial chambers dating to 400 BCE featuring Anubis relief carvings.
Hawara
Flourishing town from 1800 BCE onwards with extensive underground tomb dedicated to Anubis.
Tuna al-Gebel
Large necropolis and catacombs with tombs to Anubis from around 300 BCE.
Anubeion Temples
Numerous “Anubeia” temple complexes across Egypt dedicated specifically to Anubis worship.
Pyramids of Giza
Anubis guardian statues found in tombs of some pharaohs buried in the Giza pyramids.
Worship of Anubis Over Time
Anubis is unusual among ancient Egyptian gods for still being widely worshipped long into the 1st millennia BCE:
| Date Range | Anubis Worship |
|---|---|
| Predynastic Period | Earliest animal gods related to cemeteries and burials |
| Early Dynastic Period | Anubis appeared in tomb artwork and Pyramid Texts |
| Old Kingdom | Prominent funerary deity, extensive temple construction |
| 1st Intermediate Period | Continued importance for kings, growth of cult |
| Middle Kingdom | Anubis funeral celebrations gain popularity |
| New Kingdom | Anubis in multiple myth cycles, temple construction resumes |
| 1st millennium BCE | Invoked in Greek and Roman spells, depicted on Egyptian magical objects |
This table shows Anubis retained an important cult role guiding the dead in Egypt for over 3000 years from roughly 3000 BCE to 400 CE.
Conclusion
In summary, the ancient Egyptian deity Anubis stands out as the oldest named and evidenced death god in human history dating back over 5,000 years. Anubis played a crucial role guiding souls to the afterlife, overseeing burial rites, and protecting tombs and cemeteries in ancient Egypt for millennia. His prominence and endurance as a funerary deity is unmatched by any other known death god from the same period. Anubis retains his iconic status as one of the original death gods, and his image still resonates today when we think of the rituals and passage into the ancient Egyptian afterlife.