This image is not only cute but had very important religious significance to the Egyptian. Dogs were in fact pets back then and had much the same loving relationship that people today do with their dogs. They loved them so much they even wanted to bring them with them in the afterlife and so they painted them on their tomb walls. The jackal was specifically important as it represented Anubis. Anubis was the ‘Lord of the West’ that was associated with embalming and mummification. This particular dog comes from the tomb of Tutankhamun. The cartouche to the left spells out his prenomen (one of the Pharaoh’s names)-NebKhepurure. Anubis, seated on the shrine with carrying poles, was found at the entrance to the treasury of his tomb.

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