Yinepu
From Wepwawet Wiki
Contents |
Name
Yinepu (yih-nah-poo)
|
The Royal Child
Names - Alternate
Anpu, Inpw
Greek: Anubis
Appearance
Jackal or jackal-headed man.
Though not properly an image of Yinepu, the imiut fetish is what scholars commonly refer to as the "Anubis fetish." The imiut fetish is an animal skin, most often leopard, that is hung from a pole.
Image Gallery
 |
 |
Parents
Some of the earliest records of Yinepu's parentage are taken from the Pyramid texts in which both Hesat, who was remarkably similar to Hethert, and Bast, are listed as His mothers. In the same sources, Ra is also listed as the father of Yinepu. Other theogonies refer to Yinepu as the son of the divine couple, Set and Nebt-het.
The Greek historian, Plutarch, names Wesir as His father and Nebt-het as His mother, stating that Nebt-het, disguised as Aset, sought Wesir to produce a son when She found that Her husband, Set, was infertile. Plutarch continues to say that Wesir and Aset then became His adopted parents, however, there are no ancient Kemetic sources prior to the Greco-Roman period to corroborate this myth.
Consorts
He was said to have a wife, Anput (who was really just his female aspect, her name being his with an additional feminine suffix: the t), who was depicted exactly the same, though feminine. He is also both listed to have taken to wife the feminine form of Neheb Kau, Nehebka, and Kebauet.
Children
Kebauet, the Goddess of cold water, is also listed as his daughter in some places. Yinepu was identified as the father of Kebechet, the goddess of the purification of bodily organs due to be placed in canopic jars during mummification.
Epithets
- Chief of the Divine Pavillion
- Chief of the Holy Dwelling
- Chief of the Necropolis
- Chief of the Western Highland
- Counter of Hearts
- Foremost of Westerners
- He Who Is before the Divine Booth
- He Who Is in the Mummy Wrappings
- He Who Is over the Southern Palace
- He Who Is upon His Mountain
- He Who Protects the Southern Palace
- Lord of the Sacred Land
- Opener of Roads
- Opener of Ways
- Prince of the Court of Justice
- Prince of the Divine Court
- Undertaker
- Weigher of Righteousness
List from Per Yinepu
Roles
The Pyramid texts and the funerary texts of the Old Kingdom primarily invoke Yinepu as chief chthonic deity. In fact, Yinepu was the original Lord of the Dead as evidenced by His title Khenti-Amentiu ("Foremost of Westerners") and He was charged not only with ruling over the Underworld, but guiding and judging the souls who sought to enter it.
It wasn't until the Middle Kingdom that Yinepu relinquished His role as Lord of the Underworld to Wesir. Though this removed one of Yinepu's most important titles and roles, it did very little to Yinepu's popularity among the common people of Kemet. In fact, Yinepu continued throughout ancient history to become a national deity and even an international deity, having worshippers as far away as Rome and the British Isles.
Yinepu serves as the God of Embalming. He is also considered a psychopompos -- one who leads the dead after they have died. He also weighs the hearts of the deceased in the Hall of Two Truths. As he is considered the guide of lost souls, he is also associated with orphans.
Worship Centers
Cynopolis
Festivals
Yinepu is celebrated in several Saq festivals and minor jubilation days throughout the Kemetic year. It is also appropriate to say prayers to Him for blessings upon one's Akhu during the Wag Festival.
Myths
Yinepu is believed to have been the faithful companion of Aset as She searched for and collected the dismembered parts of Her Husband, Wesir. It was during this period that Aset, Great of Heka (Magic) had taught Yinepu much of Her skill in the art and it was with this knowledge that Yinepu became a great magician in His own right.
After Aset had collected the dismemberments of Her Husband, Yinepu used His skill and knowledge to preserve the deceased King's body, thereby effectively creating the world's first example of mummification. It was Yinepu's efforts which allowed Wesir to not only live again in Duat, but become reigning King of Duat.
Having preserved the khat (body) of the deceased King of the Two-Lands, Yinepu stayed faithfully by Aset's side to help protect and hide the infant and rightful King, Heru-sa-Aset, from His uncle, Set.
Art
Ancient
Modern
Offerings
Food/Drink
- Beer
- Cool water
- Eckes Edelkirsch Schokolade
- Red meat
- Dark chocolate (especially with raspberry or guava)
- Rum
- Shellfish
Items
- Canids
- Imiut fetish
- Stars
- Leather
- Embalming equipment
- Pottery
- Cigars and clove cigarettes
- Boxes
Stones
- Hematite
- Howlite
- Obsidian (Black & Apache Tears)
- Snowflake Obsidian
- Onyx
- Selenite
- Sodalite
- Tiger iron
- Black Tourmaline
Scents
Colours
- Cornflower Blue
- Cobalt Blue
- Black
- Gold
- Green
Flowers
Prayer Associations
The Names of Netjer are not static divinities like their counterparts in other cultures (i.e., Goddess of Love, God of War, Goddess of Sex, etc). They are not simply relegated to their specific spheres of influence and are therefore not powerless beyond those realms. The ancients had a healthy and regular relationship with their gods and thus asked of their particular deity anything they may have needed or wanted. However, there are many things within Yinepu's spheres of influence that He may be very proficient in helping you with:
- Prayers for children
- Prayers for animals
- Prayers for travelers
- Prayers for the dead
- Prayers for a gentle passing
- Prayers to allow things to "open up" (i.e., opportunities)
- Prayers for protection against Unseen (otherwordly) foes
- Prayers for patience and kindness
Common Misconceptions
Yinepu has been feared by some for His association with death and embalming. While He is integral to the Kemetic funerary rituals, He does not act as a "Grim Reaper" figure. He does not cause the death of people, rather, He merely guides them after they have died.
Another common misconception is that Bast and Yinepu are a divine couple, though, there is not evidence to this effect. In fact, some of the earliest sources list Bast as Yinepu's Mother.
