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Canopic Jar with Jackal's Head — Anonymous, Dynasty 26

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Written by: Thomas HaddadSenior Specialist · Antiquities
Antiquities · Catalogue no. 10592
Anonymous, Dynasty 26

Canopic Jar with Jackal’s Head

StatusReference work · Not for sale
Held byCleveland Museum of Art
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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.

Artist / MakerAnonymous, Dynasty 26
Date664–525 BCE
Culture / OriginEgypt, Late period (715–332 BCE), Dynasty 26
Mediumtravertine
DimensionsDiameter: 16.3 cm (6 7/16 in.); Diameter of mouth: 9 cm (3 9/16 in.); Overall: 42.6 cm (16 3/4 in.)
DepartmentEgyptian and Ancient Near Eastern Art
TypeFunerary Equipment
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Provenance & Source

Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.

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