Pair of Egyptian Alabaster Canopic Jars

Name: Pair of Egyptian Alabaster Canopic Jars
Brand: monumentgalleryla
SKU: MS.0041
Availability: InStock

SKU: MS.0041

Origin: Egypt
Circa: Late Dynastic Period, 26th, c. 664 to 332 BC
Dimensions: 11.5" Height x 8" Width (29.2cms x 20.3cms)
Medium: Alabaster

Canopic jars were a fundamental part of the mummification process in Ancient Egypt. When embalmers removed organs from the body, they preserved them, and placed them in these jars. Each jar, which is linked to a specific god, stored a particular organ. These two beautiful alabaster jars are inscribed with five columns of hieroglyphic text that feature traditional apotropaic formulae. The jar on the left invokes the goddess Isis and Imsety, while the one on the right invokes Neith and Duamutef. Both jars have elegantly curved shoulders, a robust body, and sides that taper to a flat base.

More information View images

Galerie G. Maspero, Paris. Private collection, France, acquired from the above in 1967; and thence by descent to the present owner.

Jar on right: flaked chip to base at back of jar. Minor wear overall including a few small nicks. Some wear to hieroglyphs.

Jar on left: Heavy dirt staining on the interior and around the rim. Small horizontal line or fissure to the alabaster over the body. Small chips to underside edge of base and some minor wear to hieroglyphs.

Imsety, one of the Four Sons of Horus, was associated with and protector of the liver, whilst Duamutef was protector of the stomach. A third jar would have been inscribed with an invocation by Nephthys to Hapy, associated with and protector of the lungs, and a fourth jar would have had an invocation by Selqet to Qebehsenuef, protector of the intestines.

Pair of Egyptian Alabaster Canopic Jars

You may also like

Recently viewed

Pair of Egyptian Alabaster Canopic Jars

ENQUIRY FORM