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Description: | Canopic jars were used to contain the liver, lungs, intestines and stomach of mummified Egyptians. During the 18th Dynasty (3070 - 3550 years ago) it was common for canopic jars to be decorated with the head of a deity, who was believed to protect the organ contained within the jar.The stomach was protected by Duamutef (jackal), the liver by Imsety (human), the intestines by Qebehsenuef (falcon) and the lungs by Hapy (baboon). This jar was intended to hold the lungs, as the lid represents Hapy.
Ancient Egyptians believed that their bodies would be needed for the afterlife when they died. This was why it was essential for the dead to be mummified and preserved. The internal organs were removed quickly to prevent them from rotting, and preserved in canopic jars alongside the mummified body. The heart, the 'seat of understanding', was left in place in the body, while the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines were embalmed, wrapped, and placed in four separate stone or wooden jars. This canopic jar is made of alabaster, a type of hard, white, semi-translucent stone. During the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom (1550-1070BC) the lids of canopic jars were shaped to represent the four sons of Horus, the sky-god who took the form of a falcon and was the divine protector of the king. Horus's sons were also gods; the falcon-headed Qebhsenuef, the jackal-headed Duamutef, the human-headed Imsety and the baboon-headed Hapi, who is represented on the lid of this jar. These gods protected the organs contained in the jars; Qebhsenuef's jar held the intestines, Duamutef's the stomach, Imsety's the liver and Hapi's the lungs. This tells us that the canopic jar pictured here would have contained the lungs of a deceased person. An inscription is engraved on the side of this jar in hieroglyphs. It asks for the protection of Osiris for the contents of the jar. Osiris was the god and chief judge of the Underworld, and the god of resurrection. According to Egyptian myth, he was an enlightened king of Egypt who was murdered by his jealous brother Seth, but later resurrected. He was universally worshipped in ancient Egypt because of the hope of eternal life he offered to all Egyptians. Translation of hieroglyphs from a report written by Dr M Holland of the Wolverhampton Archaeology Group and Dr C Riggs, Curator of Egyptology, The Manchester Museum : 'Words to be spoken by Neith: "I have placed my two arms about the one who is in me that I may receive the protection of Osiris for the overseer of the estate, Amunhotep, the blessed dead, true of voice."
CANOPIC JAR, alabastron with cover in shape of dog-headed baboon, inscribed with three columns of hieroglyphs. | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/ | Publisher: | Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service | Subjects: | Death Decorative arts Archaeology Death rites Egyptology | Temporal: | 18th Dynasty | Source: | Black Country History | Identifier: | http://www.blackcountryhistory.org/colle... | Go to resource |
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