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Wepwawet (Apuat) - "The Messenger of the Road; The Opener of the Ways"
Originally a Name of its own provenance, Wepwawet was depicted even from predynastic times
as a jackal-headed Netjer associated with "opening the ways," and Wepwawet's
standard-bearers led processions for both religious and martial purposes (an example can
be found on the Narmer Palette). Over time, Wepwawet's form and functions were absorbed by
another jackal-Netjer, Yinepu, who became
"Opener of the Ways" when His
own titles including Khenty-amentiu ("Foremost
of the Westerners") passed
to Wesir as premier patron of the deceased. Other than
their different names, Wepwawet can
sometimes be distinguished from Yinepu by coloring; Yinepu's jackal-head is always black,
whereas Wepwawet can appear as gray or brown. A Greek source states that Wepwawet was
associated with the wolf, as opposed to the jackal; no definitive answer is found in
Kemetic sources.
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