By Gamal Rasheed
Egypt is a nation that is famous for its excessive practice of rituals. Egyptians observed and performed peculiar and intricate types of rites and more so as funeral rites. Canopic jars are one of the numerous things they utilized to perform rites. During the mummification process, these jars were utilized for the purpose of preserving the 'viscera' to enable life after death.
Starting from the period of the ancient Egyptian Kingdom till the end of the Egyptian era, these Canopic jars were in use. Throughout their use in this era, they were utilized in many different ways. The Egyptians used manifold forms of the Canopic jars to place each internal organ, and in fact, every organ was ascribed to a specific Canopic jar with dedication.
Most of the people link the Canopic jars to the Greek legendary stories of Canopus. But Egyptology has helped historians to make it clear that the above two historical aspects are totally different and there is no link in between them.
Starting from the period of the ancient Egyptian Kingdom till the end of the Egyptian era, these Canopic jars were in use. Throughout their use in this era, they were utilized in many different ways. The Egyptians used manifold forms of the Canopic jars to place each internal organ, and in fact, every organ was ascribed to a specific Canopic jar with dedication.
Most of the people link the Canopic jars to the Greek legendary stories of Canopus. But Egyptology has helped historians to make it clear that the above two historical aspects are totally different and there is no link in between them.
As a traditional custom, four different Canopic jars were allotted to the deceased. A jar was allotted to an organ based upon specifications. The primary organs namely, the intestines, the stomach, the liver and the lungs were stored in the jars. Through the centuries, these Canopic jars underwent considerable alterations to create a variety of such jars.
Throughout the period of the ancient Egyptian Kingdom, the Canopic jars did have no complicated designs, but were rather simple and covered with lids that were plain. As they approached the first intermediate era, the jars were sculpted with human heads, symbolizing the dead.
The habit of creating human heads for Canopic jars continued up to the advent of the new Kingdom. It was with the end of the 1700s that this trend was replaced and instead of the human heads the Canopic jars now had lids symbolizing the four sons of Horus.
The Egyptian people perceived the four sons of Hours in a symbolic manner as 'the gods of cardinal compass points'. Every son was divinely employed to safeguard one of the four primary organs taken from the body. In case of dangerous attacks from the outside world, the four sons were to defend one another.
Of the four sons of Horus symbolized on the Canopic jars, the Damutef was a jackal-headed deity appointed to protect the stomach. He was also symbolic of the East; he was to be protected by goddess Neith, another deity. Secondly, Qebehsenuef was a falcon-headed deity appointed to safeguard the intestines. This deity was protected by Selket.
An Egyptian deity called Hapi was in charge of protecting the lungs which were kept in the third Canopic jar. Symbolizing North, Hapi obtained protection from Nephthys. The fourth son of Horus named
Throughout the period of the ancient Egyptian Kingdom, the Canopic jars did have no complicated designs, but were rather simple and covered with lids that were plain. As they approached the first intermediate era, the jars were sculpted with human heads, symbolizing the dead.
The habit of creating human heads for Canopic jars continued up to the advent of the new Kingdom. It was with the end of the 1700s that this trend was replaced and instead of the human heads the Canopic jars now had lids symbolizing the four sons of Horus.
The Egyptian people perceived the four sons of Hours in a symbolic manner as 'the gods of cardinal compass points'. Every son was divinely employed to safeguard one of the four primary organs taken from the body. In case of dangerous attacks from the outside world, the four sons were to defend one another.
Of the four sons of Horus symbolized on the Canopic jars, the Damutef was a jackal-headed deity appointed to protect the stomach. He was also symbolic of the East; he was to be protected by goddess Neith, another deity. Secondly, Qebehsenuef was a falcon-headed deity appointed to safeguard the intestines. This deity was protected by Selket.
An Egyptian deity called Hapi was in charge of protecting the lungs which were kept in the third Canopic jar. Symbolizing North, Hapi obtained protection from Nephthys. The fourth son of Horus named
The habit of creating human heads for Canopic jars continued up to the advent of the new Kingdom. It was with the end of the 1700s that this trend was replaced and instead of the human heads the Canopic jars now had lids symbolizing the four sons of Horus.
The Egyptian people perceived the four sons of Hours in a symbolic manner as 'the gods of cardinal compass points'. Every son was divinely employed to safeguard one of the four primary organs taken from the body. In case of dangerous attacks from the outside world, the four sons were to defend one another.
Of the four sons of Horus symbolized on the Canopic jars, the Damutef was a jackal-headed deity appointed to protect the stomach. He was also symbolic of the East; he was to be protected by goddess Neith, another deity. Secondly, Qebehsenuef was a falcon-headed deity appointed to safeguard the intestines. This deity was protected by Selket.
An Egyptian deity called Hapi was in charge of protecting the lungs which were kept in the third Canopic jar. Symbolizing North, Hapi obtained protection from Nephthys. The fourth son of Horus named Imseti was in charge of protecting the liver. Symbolizing North, he was to obtain protection from the goddess Isis.
About the Author:
The Egyptian people perceived the four sons of Hours in a symbolic manner as 'the gods of cardinal compass points'. Every son was divinely employed to safeguard one of the four primary organs taken from the body. In case of dangerous attacks from the outside world, the four sons were to defend one another.
Of the four sons of Horus symbolized on the Canopic jars, the Damutef was a jackal-headed deity appointed to protect the stomach. He was also symbolic of the East; he was to be protected by goddess Neith, another deity. Secondly, Qebehsenuef was a falcon-headed deity appointed to safeguard the intestines. This deity was protected by Selket.
An Egyptian deity called Hapi was in charge of protecting the lungs which were kept in the third Canopic jar. Symbolizing North, Hapi obtained protection from Nephthys. The fourth son of Horus named Imseti was in charge of protecting the liver. Symbolizing North, he was to obtain protection from the goddess Isis.
About the Author:
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