Wepwawet

Wepwawet, Wp-w3-wt [Wep-wa-wet] (Webwawet, Apuat, Ubuaut, Ubuat, Upuaut, Upwaut, Ophois), became a funerary deity in Kemetic (Egyptian) cosmogony. Wepwawet, originally a war god whose cult center was Asyut (Lycopolis, Cynopolis, city of the wolves) in Upper Kernet, became a deity representative of the winter solstice as Anubis (Jackal-headed god who assisted Aset [Isis] in the resurrection of Asar) and was a deity representative of the summer solstice. Wepwa wet's name means “opener of [Page 710]the ways.” Wepwawet was the opener of the ways in the south (Upper Kernet), whereas Anubis was the opener of the ways in the north (Lower Kernet).

Wepwawet's Mdw Ntr (hieroglyphs) have been translated as jackal, dog, and wolf. These translations have led to some of the confusion concerning Wepwawet's image. Mainly, the confusion comes from his association with the jackal-headed god Anubis. Wepwawet functioned as a colieutenant, along with Anubis, of Asar (Osiris), God of the Dead. Wepwawet was leader of the warriors and the mourners, who guided souls through the netherworld. As a coas-sistant to Anubis and an officer or a lieutenant of Asar, in guiding the Dead on their way to and through the netherworld, Wepwawet was a popular deity. People of Kernet venerated Wepwawet in life and death as they sometimes faced unsafe travels in both life and death, and Wepwawet was considered a deity who would guide them in both instances.

In the role of celestial guide, Wepwawet not only co-led with Anubis, but also was sometimes shown piloting the sun's boat during its nocturnal journeys. Further, Wepwawet is depicted towing Asar's boat along the edge of the southern and northern skies. Some Egyptologists note, in their translation of Kemetic mythology, that, prior to his deposition by Asar, Wepwawet was venerated as the Lord of the Necropolis under the name of Kenti Amentiu (Kbentyamentiu), “he who rules the West.” As the god of Asyut and a later addition to the Asarian legend, Wepwawet was considered one of the chief officers in Asar's conquest of the world. Hence, both Anubis and Wepwawet sometimes appear dressed as Asar's officers, lieutenants, or soldiers.

In some aspects of the various interpretations of the myths/legends of the Kemetic story of gods and goddesses, Wepwawet, Anubis, Djhuti (Tehuti, Thoth, Hermes), and Asar have been confused in one way or another. It is written that Asar sometimes turns into Wepwawet, that Anubis and Wepwawet are one and the same, that Wepwawet is Asar's or Anubis's son, that Wepwawet has sometimes functioned in the same capacity as Djhuti in that both are depicted standing at the helm of the boat destroying Asar's enemies, that both Djhuti and Wepwawet are openers of the ways, and that it was Wepwawet, Djhuti, and Anubis who accompanied Asar in the conquest of Asia.