Relief of Anubis from the catacomb of Kom El Shoqafa
Detail of the relief of the god Anubis placed on the right side of the entrance to the burial chamber of the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. The god is in anthropomorphic form with a jackal head and sun disk, Roman soldier's armour and holds a spear and shield, emphasising the protective power of the god as guardian of the tomb. The catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa consist of a series of tombs influenced by the Hellenistic and early imperial styles. Dating from the time of the Antonine emperors, the tombs were carved into the rock and equipped with a spiral staircase to transport the bodies of the deceased inside. The decoration, statues and reliefs are in the Egyptian style mixed with aspects of the Greco-Roman style.
