CANOPIC JARS

by Nefeti Meritamen

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.