The preservation of the physical remains of the
deceased was an essential aspect of Ancient
Egyptian religious beliefs. During the
mummification process, an incision was made on
the side of the body, through which all of the
major organs were removed. In the earliest
tombs, the organs were simply wrapped in cloth
and placed in small niches carved into the walls
of the structure. However, by as early as the 4th
Dynasty, the organs were placed in simple stone
or pottery canopic jars featuring unadorned, flat
or slightly domed lids. Although the First
Intermediate Period were chaotic times in
Egyptian history, it represented an age of
innovation for arts relating to the canopic rites.
For the first time, the jar lids took on the form of
human and animal heads. Later, by the end of
the Middle Kingdom, canopic equipment had
achieved classic standard that we identify the
term with today.
Here, we find an outer stone chest, associated
with the stone sarcophagus, and an inner
wooden chest representing the coffin and divided
into four sections. These four sections held four
separate jars, complete with texts, meant to hold
the four major organs. These four human
organs were identified with the four sons of
Horus, each of whom was referred to as a genius.
They included the liver, identified with the
genius Imsety; the lungs, identified with Hapy;
the stomach, identified with Duamutef; and the
intestines, associated with Kebehsenuef. Yet it
was not until the 18th Dynasty, when this work
was carved, that images of these four genii
became the focus of the decorative scheme and
the lids of the canopic jars were modeled after
their heads. Imsety was recognizable as a
human, while Hapy took the form of a baboon,
Duamutef that of a jackal, and Kebehsenuef that
of a hawk. During this time as well, the common
material out of which the jars were made
broadened to include wood, pottery, cartonnage,
calcite, and limestone.
This gorgeous canopic jar depicting the human-
headed deity Imsety reveals how extraordinarily
sophisticated such work became during the
height of their evolution. When one considers
how meager the first viscera containers were, the
artistry of this piece seems that much more
remarkable. Imsety was the deity who presided
over the liver, so we can safely assume that this
lid once sealed a jar holding the remnants of this
major organ inside. The carving of his human
head is simply stunning. His facial features are
all carefully rendered, including his incised eyes,
nose, and slightly smiling mouth. A standard
wig crowns his head and frames his ears. While
some of us may become uneasy when
contemplating what was once held inside this jar,
this is just a temporary reaction, for the
fascinating history and astounding beauty of this
piece soon occupy our thoughts and we are in
awe.
- (X.0214)
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