Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Hermanubis

Master of the Necropolises. He played a role in mummification and in granting life to the mummies that his drawn image guards. The Greeks identified him with their god Hermes. He holds in his left hand a palm branch. On his right is a dog and he carries on his head the sacred basket called the "Kalathos," a sign of fertility. The picture of Hermanubis appeared on the coins of the second century AD nomes. He was even found once pictured on a naos, or shrine, from the Late Period. He was known throughout both the Hellenistic and Roman worlds and his name appeared in Virgil's poetry.