An Egyptian divinity, pritector of the dead. He was represented in the form of a dog or jackal, or with a human body and a jackal’s head. He was supposed to preside over embalming rites and was often shown in paintings and reliefs as standing close by the dead person’s bed in the act of tying the bandages. His name occurs frequently in the oldest recorded prayers for the dead. From the time of the Vth dynasty ( 3^rd millennium B.C. ) Anubis was gradually superseded by Osiris as chief protector of the dead, though he was supposed still to play an important part as guide of the souls of the dead and usher to Osiris.