The ancient Egyptians used a variety of methods to preserve the bodies of their dead for the afterlife. One such method was to remove certain organs and store them in canopic jars. Canopic jars were typically made of stone or clay and were often inscribed with the name and image of one of the four sons of Horus.
The son represented depended on which organ was being stored; Imsety guarded the liver, Hapy protected the lungs, Duamutef oversaw the stomach, and Qebehsenuef had charge over the intestines. This ensured that each organ would be properly cared for in death just as it had been in life.
Canopic jars are a type of jar that was used by the ancient Egyptians to store organs. The word “canopic” comes from the Greek word for “vase”, and they were often made out of alabaster or limestone.
There would typically be four canopic jars, each one associated with a different Egyptian god.
The god would be responsible for protecting a specific organ:
-Hapy was the protector of the lungs
-Duamutef was in charge of the stomach
-Imsety watch over the liver
-Qebehsenuef guarded the intestines
The heart, being considered the seat of intelligence, was left inside the body during mummification as it was thought that it would be needed in the afterlife.
Each organ would be placed inside its own canopic jar and then sealed. The jars would then be placed inside a Canopic chest and buried with the mummy.
Credit: en.wikipedia.org
Why were Canopic Jars So Important?
Canopic jars were so important in Ancient Egyptian funerary practices because they were used to store and preserve the organs of the deceased. The four main canopic jars each represented one of the Four Sons of Horus, who protected different organs. The jar that held the liver was associated with Imsety, the human-headed son; the jar for the lungs was associated with Hapy, the baboon-headed son; Duamutef, the jackal-headed son, presided over the stomach; and Qebehsenuef, the falcon-headed son, guarded the intestines.
Canopic jars were usually made of limestone or alabaster and were often beautifully decorated.
When Did Canopic Jars Stop Being Used?
In Ancient Egypt, Canopic jars were used to store and preserve the organs of mummified corpses. Each jar was dedicated to a different god and associated with a different organ: the jar for the stomach was protected by the goddess Isis, the jar for the intestines by Nepthys, the jar for the lungs by Selket, and so on.
The practice of storing organs in canopic jars continued until around the 21st dynasty (1069-945 BCE), after which they were gradually replaced by coffins or simply buried with the body.
There are a number of reasons why this change occurred.
Firstly, as embalming techniques improved over time, it became less necessary to remove and preserve organs separately. Secondly, during periods of political turmoil or economic decline, such as duringthe First Intermediate Period (2181-2055 BCE) or Late Period (664-332 BCE), people could no longer afford expensiveCanopic jars and began using cheaper alternatives instead.
Finally, as Egyptian religion changed and new gods rose to prominence,the old funerary rites fell out of favour.
So while Canopic jars were once an essential part of Egyptian burial practices, they eventually fell out of use.
What 4 Organs were Put in Canopic Jars for the Afterlife?
The ancient Egyptians believed that the human soul was composed of various parts, each with its own role to play in the afterlife. The heart, for example, was thought to be the seat of the soul, while the liver was responsible for filtering out impurities. To ensure that these important organs were properly taken care of after death, they were often placed in canopic jars and buried alongside the body.
There were four main types of canopic jars, each associated with a different organ: the jar with a human head represented the lungs; the one with a baboon head housed the stomach; an animal-headed jar (usually jackal or falcon) held the intestines; and finally, a jar in the shape of a dwarf protected the liver. The lids of these jars were often decorated with images of their corresponding gods: Duamutef (jackal), Hapy (baboon), Imsety (human), and Qebehsenuef (falcon).
Over time, the number of organs placed in canopic jars increased from four to seven as new beliefs aboutthe afterlife developed.
However, even though additional organs were added to this list (such asthe kidneys and spleen), only four types of canopic jars remained popular.
Where were the Canopic Jars Placed And Why?
The ancient Egyptians used canopic jars to store the internal organs of their mummified deceased. There were four jars, each associated with a different organ. The liver jar was placed on the east side of the mummy, the lungs jar on the north side, the stomach jar on the west side, and the intestines jar on the south side.
This placement was based on the cardinal points and their associated deities. The goddess Nephthys guarded over canopic jars in general, while each organ had its own specific protector deity. For example, Hapi protected the lungs, Imsety protected the liver, Duamutef protected the stomach, and Qebehsenuef watched over intestines.
Ancient Egyptian Canopic Jars
Duamutef Canopic Jar
The Duamutef canopic jar was used by the ancient Egyptians to hold the stomach of a deceased person. The jars were usually made of wood or stone and had a human head on top.
The Duamutef jar gets its name from the jackal-headed god, Duamutef.
He is one of the four sons of Horus, and his job was to protect the stomach during mummification and in the afterlife. In some pictures, you can see him holding a knife and a lotus flower.
Canopic jars were used from around 2686 BC until around 664 BC.
After that time, they stopped using them for stomachs and started using them for other organs like the intestines, lungs, and liver.
Some people think that each son of Horus represented one of the cardinal points: north (Qebehsenuef), south (Duamutef), east (Hapy), or west (Imsety). But there’s no real evidence for this idea.
If you’re interested in learning more about ancient Egyptian culture, be sure to check out our other blog post about canopic jars!
Conclusion
The Canopic Jars were used by the Ancient Egyptians to store and preserve the organs of their dead Pharaohs. The jars were usually made of stone or clay and were inscribed with the names of the four sons of Horus, who protected each organ. The heart was left inside the body, as it was considered to be the seat of the soul.