Anubis (alternate names: Inpu – various spellings: Anup, Anpu, Ienpw -- Hermanubis – when merged with the Greek god Hermes)
Origin in time and place: Oldest mention is in the Old Kingdom pyramid texts (3rd millennium BCE) Egypt – cult center was Cynopolis (Greek for “City of the Dog”)
Lineage: Nyphthys and Osiris – the legend says that Nephthys and her twin sister Isis tricked Osiris into believing that she was Isis, she then seduced Osiris and conceived Anubis. Early legends say that he is the son of Ra. Some say Set and Nephthys, other say his mother is either Hesat or Bast. His wife is the goddess Anput, his female aspect. Their daughter is the goddess Kebechet, she helps her father by purifying the bodies for mummification.
What the deity symbolizes: Anubis is connected with mummification and death. He was once the most important god of the underworld until Osiris took over the post during the Middle Kingdom.
Power and properties: Anubis is the protector of the dead. He weighs the heart against the feather of Ma’at (truth and order). If the heart is as light as a the feather, Anubis will lead it down to Osiris. If it is heavier, the heart is fed Ammit thus destroying the soul. He is most often portrayed as having the body of a human and the head of a jackal, sometimes as full jackal wearing a ribbon and holding a flail in the crook of his arm. Very rarely in all human form. The jackal has to do with his connection to the dead, in ancient Egypt the jackals was a scavenger which may dig up and eat the bodies of those not buried properly. His skin is black to represent the color of decayed flesh and the soil of the Nile valley, symbolizing rebirth.
Associated stories and myths: When Osiris was killed by his jealous brother Set, Anubis helped Isis to mummify his dead father’s body. It is said that upon Osiris’ death, his organs were given to Anubis as a gift.


Hekate (alternate spelling: Hecate)
Origin in time and place: The first mention of Hekate is in Hesiod’s Hymn to Hekate, around the 8th century BCE. She is a Greco-Roman goddess, although she may have her origins with the Carians of Anatolia.
Lineage: In the most common myth she is the only daughter of Perses and Asteria. In one myth it is said that she was a mortal priestess (often associated with Iphegeneia) who offended Artemis. As revenge, Artemis brought about her suicide. She then commands the spirit to rise and become her Hekate (will). She is then made an avenging spirit for injured women. Although she is a virgin goddess, it is sometimes said that she is the mother of the monster Scylla.
What the deity symbolizes: Hekate is associated with death, necromancy, magic, witchcraft, crossroads and birth.
Power and properties: Images of Hekate were often placed at city gates and doorways to ward off evil spirits. It came to be believed that if one offended her she could allow the evil spirits entrance. She has many powers, but they usually all boil down to giving prosperity to those who she deems deserve it and hardship to those who displease her. She is also the nurse of the very young. She is often associated with the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess, but that conflicts with her status as a virgin goddess and her association with birth. In her role as a goddess of crossroads she is depicted as having three heads. Many images depict her with two ghostly dogs by her side. It is said that the barking of dogs heralds her arrival.
Associated stories and myths: She was said to have been a midwife at the birth of Zeus when Rhea gave Cronus a rock to consume instead of Zeus. She was one of the only Titans to fight with Zeus against the Titans so she was not banished to the underworld realms when the gods won the war. He honored her by allowing her to retain her authority and bestowing upon her the power of giving to humanity anything she wished, or withholding from them if she pleased. She held dominion over the earth, sea and sky. In the story of Demeter and Persephone she assisted Demeter in her search for her daughter as she was the one who saw what had happened. After she was found, Hekate became Persephone’s minister and companion in Hades.

One of the reasons I chose these deities is because of my pup, Oy. Everyone thinks he looks quite a bit like many representations of Anubis. I also have another black dog, thus the connection with Hekate.