Canopic Jar with Man's Head

664–525 BCE

Egypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 26

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Medium

travertine

Measurements

Diameter: 16.6 cm (6 9/16 in.); Diameter of mouth: 9 cm (3 9/16 in.); Overall: 38.8 cm (15 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

The Charles W. Harkness Endowment Fund 1921.1019.a

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Location

107 Egyptian

Description

In the process of mummification, the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines were removed, separately embalmed, and stored in specialized jars known as canopic jars (after a sailor in Greek mythology, who died at the town of Canopus in the Nile Delta and was worshipped there in the form of a human-headed jar). Each organ was identified with one of four funerary deities collectively known as the Sons of Horus: the liver with Imsety (man's head), the lungs with Hapy (baboon's head), the stomach with Duamutef (jackal's head), and the intestines with Qebehsenuef (falcon's head). It was their duty to protect the deceased and restore to him his body parts in the hereafter.