Anubis Shrine

The Anubisschrein comes from the grave Treasure of Tutankhamun (18th Dynasty, New Kingdom ). The grave ( KV62 ) was discovered almost unlimited robbed on November 4, 1922 in the Valley of the Kings in Western Thebes by Howard Carter. The object with the Fund number 261 is now as an exhibit with the inventory number JE 61444 in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Fund history

The Anubisschrein was behind the non- walled entrance leading from the grave chamber ( J) in the so-called " treasury " ( Yes ). The shrine with Anubis figure lying on it was oriented to the west. Behind this was the canopic chest, which contained the canopic chest. While working in the grave chamber of the entrance to the "treasure chamber " had been closed with wooden planks, so as not to damage the objects therein by the clearance work in the grave chamber (Store Room). The investigation and clearing of the " treasury " began in the fifth excavation season ( September 22, 1926 - May 3, 1927) and Carter describes the Anubisschrein in his excavation journal for the first time on 23 October 1926.

Anubis figure

The figure of the fully represented in animal form, Anubis was mounted on the lid of the shrine. The jackal lying on the shrine is made of wood that is covered with black paint. From gold leaf are the insides of the ears, eyebrows, eye rims of the resting animal and the collar and around the neck and lying knotted band. The whites of the eyes consists of deposits of calcite, and the pupils of obsidian. The claws are made of silver, which was more valuable than gold valued in Ancient Egypt.

The Anubis figure was clad in a shirt of linen, the ink comes out, according to the hieroglyphic inscription from the 7th year of King (Pharaoh) Akhenaten. Among them was a very fine, gazeartiges linen cloth that was " tied the front of the neck ." Around the neck of the figure, a scarf was wrapped in the double row lotus and cornflowers were woven and was tied behind the neck of the animal to a loop.

Between the forepaws a write range was named by Akhenaten's eldest daughter Meritaton.

The figure of Anubis was separated on October 25, 1926 by lid of the shrine to it a day later transported together with the shrine on the " palanquin " (a type of carriage ) by the grave chamber unscathed from the grave and bring to the lab can.

A similarly crafted Anubis figure was found grave of King Horemheb ( KV57 ), but in which the deposits of precious stone were missing.

Shrine

The shrine is trapezoidal. Howard Carter called him his records because of the shape as a pylon, as they are found in the great temples at Karnak or Philae. As the jackal lying, he is also made ​​of wood, and finally coated with a layer of stucco and gold leaf. The main decorative form of the so-called Djed pillar, a symbol of life and this is closely linked to the god Osiris, and Isis knot (also tit amulet) that can stand as the ankh for life, and a symbol of the goddess Isis is. On all sides of the shrine inscriptions run along the top (horizontal) as well as on the sides ( vertical). At the base there is no inscription. The inscriptions mention two manifestations of Anubis: imiut ( Jmj wt - " The wrapper ") and " Chenti - coulter netjer " ( Ḫntj - sh- ntr - " The First Hall of the God "). Inside the shrine four small compartments and one large compartment are incorporated. These contained various pieces of jewelery, amulets and commodities whose use is not fully understood.

Use and meaning

The shrine was on a kind of carriage, which was provided at both front and rear with two support rods. It is therefore assumed that the Anubisschrein been used in the funeral procession of the king and was eventually parked in front of the canopic chest in the " treasury ". This and the orientation of the Anubis figure and the shrine to the west, where the ancient Egyptian belief, according to the Hereafter is, points to the role of the god Anubis as guardians of the Theban necropolis. This is illustrated by a small brick ( clay tablet ) of unfired clay, also known as Magic Bricks, who found themselves on the " treasury " before the shrine at the entrance. This brick was the fifth Magic brick in the grave of Tutankhamen. Are usual four, which are aligned to the cardinal directions. The small brick was fitted with a miniature torch and charcoal.

According to Carter, he was not placed for no reason at the entrance to the treasury, because the bricks had a magic formula that would protect the deceased:

Thus the inscription of this brick was the origin of the curse of the pharaoh, which was reproduced in the former worldwide press in different versions and not in the original translation.

Of further importance is the figure lying on the shrine jackal himself, as a case in hieroglyphics ( Gardiner - list character E16 ) is available in this style is for the god Anubis. However, this hieroglyph also referred to the title " The information about the secrets ," says that the god believed to play a dual function in the sense of a guardian and as keeper of secrets.