![]() These were four stone and ceramic vessels that represented
the sons of Heru (Horus), and were used for the burial of the wrapped viscera
that was removed from the deceased body during embalming and
Mummification. The earliest evidence of evisceration comes from the
calcite canopic chest, divided into four sections, found at Giza in the
tomb of Queen Hetepheres, the mother of Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty.
Each jar had a distinct head, protected a particular organ, and was
associated with a specific compass point and goddess. Though the jars
had human heads during the First Intermediate Period, by the 18th
Dynasty they each had a different head. Imsety was man-headed, held the
liver, and was linked with Aset (Isis) and the south. Hapi bore the head of an
ape, held the lungs, and was linked with Nebet-Het (Nephthys) and the north.
Duamutef had a jackal’s head, held the stomach, and was linked with Neit
and the east. Qebehsenuef, linked with Serket and the west, looked after
the intestines with his falcon head.
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