Canopic jar chests were one of the most important ritualistic items utilized in the elaborate burial customs that the Egyptians practiced. Before the mummification process a number of organs were removed from the dead body and placed inside Canopic jars which would in turn be placed inside a Canopic chest. The chest containing the organs would be placed next to the tomb in a dedicated space called the Canopic shrine.
For the ancient Egyptians, it was a common belief that if the dead was willing, it could get back to the body, necessitating the preservation of the body like the internal parts. To be able to preserve the body, a lengthy and complicated procedure was performed, and the resultant mummy was put in the tomb. It required a number of days to finish the task. During the process, the internal parts needed to be taken out and placed in the Canopic jars that were further placed in the Canopic chest.
The use of Canopic chests was initiated back in the second Dynasty. The Egyptians continued using them till the arrival of the Ptolemaic period. However with the passing of time the design and style of the Canopic jar chests had gone through several modifications.
The earliest proven evidence of Canopic burials goes back to the fourth Dynasty and was found at Giza in the tomb of Queen Meresankh III. This was during the time period of the reign of Menkaure. Instances of Canopic burials have also been found from the tombs that were made during the reign of Sneferu.
In the very first Canopic jars, the organs which were removed from the corpse were secured in wooden boxes. In some other instances, they were kept in stone jars or in pottery and closed with flat or dome-shaped lids. The chests were either designed by cutting out from soft stone, or were cut appropriately into the wall or ground of the specified tomb.
As they entered the sixth Dynasty, Egyptians made use of granite stones for making the chests. The start of the 18th century introduced wood, limestone, cartonnage, calcite and lots of other materials to serve the purpose of creating the Canopic jar chests.
The Canopic jars that contained the organs of the dead body also went through a series of modifications over time. They started out as simple stone jars with flat lids. The first modification came in the form of domed lids.
In due course, Egyptians worked with many types of materials for making the Canopic jars. The four most important organs namely, the intestines, stomach, lungs and liver were placed in the Canopic jars. Each organ was divinely ascribed to a particular deity.
With the passing of time the jars were modified conceptually as well as physically. When it comes to their physical appearance they were now given lids that depicted a sculpture of jackal heads. These were considered to be representing the four sons of Horus. Each organ was then assigned to one of the sons who were in turn protected by another powerful Egyptian deity.
For the ancient Egyptians, it was a common belief that if the dead was willing, it could get back to the body, necessitating the preservation of the body like the internal parts. To be able to preserve the body, a lengthy and complicated procedure was performed, and the resultant mummy was put in the tomb. It required a number of days to finish the task. During the process, the internal parts needed to be taken out and placed in the Canopic jars that were further placed in the Canopic chest.
The use of Canopic chests was initiated back in the second Dynasty. The Egyptians continued using them till the arrival of the Ptolemaic period. However with the passing of time the design and style of the Canopic jar chests had gone through several modifications.
The earliest proven evidence of Canopic burials goes back to the fourth Dynasty and was found at Giza in the tomb of Queen Meresankh III. This was during the time period of the reign of Menkaure. Instances of Canopic burials have also been found from the tombs that were made during the reign of Sneferu.
In the very first Canopic jars, the organs which were removed from the corpse were secured in wooden boxes. In some other instances, they were kept in stone jars or in pottery and closed with flat or dome-shaped lids. The chests were either designed by cutting out from soft stone, or were cut appropriately into the wall or ground of the specified tomb.
As they entered the sixth Dynasty, Egyptians made use of granite stones for making the chests. The start of the 18th century introduced wood, limestone, cartonnage, calcite and lots of other materials to serve the purpose of creating the Canopic jar chests.
The Canopic jars that contained the organs of the dead body also went through a series of modifications over time. They started out as simple stone jars with flat lids. The first modification came in the form of domed lids.
In due course, Egyptians worked with many types of materials for making the Canopic jars. The four most important organs namely, the intestines, stomach, lungs and liver were placed in the Canopic jars. Each organ was divinely ascribed to a particular deity.
With the passing of time the jars were modified conceptually as well as physically. When it comes to their physical appearance they were now given lids that depicted a sculpture of jackal heads. These were considered to be representing the four sons of Horus. Each organ was then assigned to one of the sons who were in turn protected by another powerful Egyptian deity.
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