Canopic Jars

Canopic jars were used by the Ancient Egyptians during the mummification process to store and preserve their owner’s organs for the afterlife.

The canopic jars were four in number, each for the safekeeping of particular human organs: the stomach, intestines, lungs, and liver, all of which, it was believed, would be needed in the afterlife. There was no jar for the heart: the Egyptians believed it to be the seat of the soul, and so it was left inside the body.

Each god was responsible for protecting a particular organ, and was himself protected by a companion goddess. They were:

·         Duamutef, the jackal-headed god representing the east, whose jar contained the stomach.

·         Hapi, the baboon-headed god representing the north, whose jar contained the lungs.

·         Imseti, the human-headed god representing the south, whose jar contained the liver.

·         Qebehsenuef, the falcon-headed god representing the west, whose jar contained the intestines.