Canopic Jar

Late Period

664–525 BC ?

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 127

Canopic jars were made to contain the organs that were removed from the body in the process of mummification: the lungs, liver, intestines, and stomach. Each organ was protected by one of the Four Sons of Horus: Hapy (lungs), Imseti (liver), Duamutef (stomach), and Qebehsenuef (intestines). Beginning in the New Kingdom, canopic jar lids were usually carved with heads that identify these four protectors: the baboon head is Hapy, the human head is Imseti, the jackal head is Duamutef, and the falcon head is Qebehsenuef.

This jar, with its human-headed lid probably held the liver and was under the protection of Imseti. The other three jars of the set are 12.183.1b–d.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Canopic Jar
Period: Late Period
Dynasty: Dynasty 26 (Saite)?
Date: 664–525 BC ?
Geography: From Egypt; Possibly from Northern Upper Egypt, Abydos
Medium: Limestone, paint
Dimensions: H. 28 cm (11 in.); diam. 15.5 cm (6 1/8 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1912
Object Number: 12.183.1a.1, .2
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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