Canopic jar lid
About This Item
The process of mummification began with the removal of internal organs. Embalmers used special containers called canopic jars to separately preserve the stomach, liver, lungs, and intestines. Each jar represented one of the Four Sons of Horus, or deities who protected the organs. This jar lid represents Imsety, the human-headed deity who protects the liver.
- Date
- While we do not know the date this particular object was crafted, we know that in ancient Egypt canopic jar lids were made from c. 2686 BCE–332 BCE.
- Geography
- Thebes, Egypt
- Medium
- limestone
- Provenance
- Purchased by Adolph Sutro in 1884 in Thebes, Egypt
- Height
- 5 in
- Width
- 5 in
- Depth
- 5 in
- Copyright
- Copyright status unknown. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing, and trademarks. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
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