mercredi 14 août 2013

Significant Info About Ancient Egyptian Jars

By Gamal Rasheed


The Egyptians were known for practicing uncommon and elaborate burial rituals. In order to perform these rituals the Egyptians had specific equipment like Canopic jars. These jars were really used while the process of mummification was taking place. They served as the storage containers for preserving the "viscera" for life after death.

These Canopic jars were utilized since the time of origin of the ancient Kingdom of Egypt until the Egyptian era ended. During this era, the Canopic jars were put to use differently. Canopic jars of different looks were utilized by the Egyptians to store each of the organs. Distinct Canopic jars were dedicated divinely and were used for each organ removed from the body.

It is a common opinion among the people that Canopic jars are related to the Greek legendary tales belonging to Canopus. But Egyptian historians have made it obvious that they are two completely distinct ideologies not related by any means.

According to tradition the deceased individual might have four Canopic jars. Each of these jars was intended to safeguard a particular organ. The main organs in the view of the Egyptians were the lungs, liver, the stomach and the intestines. The design sense employed in creating Canopic jars went through a number of changes over time.

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. When they approached the first intermediate era, the jars were sculpted with human heads, as a symbol of the dead.

Until the beginning of the new Kingdom of Egypt, Canopic jars portraying human heads were commonly used. As the 18th century was coming to a close, the human head symbol became obsolete. The lids were now made in order to portray the four sons of Horus.

Each one of the four sons of Horus was in charge of the protection of each of the four organs dedicated to them. The Egyptians viewed the four sons of Horus as 'gods of cardinal compass points'. They were also supposed to guard each other from dangers posed from any outside source.

The four sons of Horus as represented on the Canopic jars included Damutef, who was a jackal headed god responsible for protecting the stomach. He represented the East and was granted divine protection from another Egyptian deity, the goddess Neith. The second was a falcon headed deity known as Qebehsenuef. This deity was in charge of protecting the intestines and was given protection from Selket.

An Egyptian deity named Hapi was responsible for protecting the lungs that were kept in the third Canopic jar. Symbolizing North, Hapi obtained protection from Nephthys. The fourth son of Horus named Imseti was accountable for protecting the liver. Symbolizing North, he was to get protection from the goddess Isis.




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