So what is on Anubis' job description?
(I love this perfectly timed photo).
Although there were hundreds of gods in the ancient Egyptian pantheon, a lot of responsibility rested on the shoulders of one particular god: Anubis.
Anubis was the god of cemeteries and embalming, and normally seen as a jackal or black dog, or as a jackal-headed human.
Anubis' job description is probably best revealed through some of the epithets used with his name:
"Foremost of the Westerners"
The West was where the entrance to the Underworld was located, indicating his leadership of those buried in the cemeteries.
"Presiding Over God's Pavilion"
The God's Pavilion was the place where the ritual of embalming took place. This epithet stresses his role in the mummification process. It was Anubis who provided the iron for the magical adze used in the 'Opening of the Mouth' ritual, whereby the deceased's senses were restored to fully enjoy the Afterlife.
"He Who Is Upon His Mountain"
The 'mountain' refers to the western horizon; again, another description of Anubis as a protector of cemeteries.
"Lord of the Sacred Land"
Another reference to the burial grounds on the west bank of the Nile, and Anubis' role as guardian and guide for the dead.
In the Weighing of the Heart ceremony, Anubis was described as "He Who Counts the Hearts". It was his job to lead the deceased to the Hall of Ma'at where they would be judged, as well as ensure that the weighing was fair. If the deceased's spiritual heart was as light as the feather of truth and the scales balanced, Anubis then led them into the divine presence of Osiris, god of the Underworld to enjoy a glorious eternity.
That's quite a list. It's no wonder that Anubis enjoys some down-time once in a while.