February 6–May 3, 2015

Curator: Terry Wilfong

The exhibition “Death Dogs” explored the history of some unusual mythical beings: Anubis, Wepwawet, and the other jackal gods of ancient Egypt. From wild, scavenging dogs in prehistory to Egyptian deities of embalming and protection, these gods have fascinated and disturbed people from ancient times to the present. Using artifacts in the Kelsey Museum, this exhibition identified the most important Egyptian jackal gods and deciphered their complex roles in Egyptian religion and understandings of death and the afterlife. The show also explored the lasting appeal of these dogs as vivid symbols of ancient Egypt in modern times.