canopic jar

canopic jar

In ancient Egyptian funerary ritual, a covered vessel of wood, stone, pottery, or faience containing the embalmed viscera removed from a body during mummification. First used during the Old Kingdom (c. 2575–c. 2130 BC), the jars became more elaborate during the Middle Kingdom (c. 1938–c. 1600 BC), when their lids were decorated with sculpted human heads (probably representations of the deceased). From the 19th dynasty until the end of the New Kingdom (1539–1075 BC), the heads represented the four sons of Horus. During the 20th dynasty (1190–1075 BC), the practice began of returning the viscera to the body, and the art of canopic jars declined.