In ancient Egyptian religion, the Imiut fetish symbolized the embalmer’s craft and was linked with Anubis. It consisted of an animal skin, often identified as a feline or bovine hide, suspended from a pole and attached to a container or standard.
The object is especially associated with funerary ritual and appears in royal and religious contexts. Its exact original meaning remains debated, but its connection with animal skins, purification, and burial ceremony helped associate it with Anubis and the preservation of the dead.
The Imiut fetish is sometimes incorrectly described as simply an Anubis statue. It was a ritual object rather than the familiar reclining canine figure. Examples are known from ancient Egyptian tombs, including objects connected with royal burials and temple ceremonies.