Anubis is the jackal-headed god closely associated with the Book of the Dead and the weighing of the heart.
In Egyptian religion, Anubis was linked to embalming, cemeteries, protection of the dead, and the transition into the afterlife. His jackal form may reflect the scavenging jackals seen around desert-edge cemeteries, transforming a feared animal into a supernatural guardian.
In the Book of the Dead’s judgment scenes, Anubis oversees the scales on which the deceased’s heart is weighed against the feather of Ma’at. Thoth records the result, Osiris presides as ruler of the dead, and Ammit waits to devour a heart judged unworthy. These roles are distinct even though popular summaries often merge them.
Anubis is sometimes confused with Osiris because both are strongly connected with death and the afterlife. Osiris is the deceased ruler and judge, while Anubis is primarily the guide, embalmer, protector, and guardian of the scales. The jackal-headed clue specifically identifies Anubis.