Canopic Jar of Amenhotep
Egyptian; Tomb A7, Dra Abu el-Naga, Thebes (now Luxor), Egypt
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New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep II (about 1427–1400 BCE)
<p>One of a set of four jars that belonged to Amenhotep, who oversaw architectural projects in the temple of Amun at Karnak (in present-day Luxor). Now empty, the jars once held Amenhotep’s liver, lungs, intestines, and stomach, which were removed during the mummification process. Each jar has a hand-sculpted stopper that may represent its owner or one of the four sons of Horus, a set of gods associated with these vital organs. An inscription in hieroglyphs on each container promises divine protection over its contents by a different goddess: Selket, Neith, Nephthys, or Isis.</p>
Inscription
Words spoken by Serket: “I place my arms on that which is in me, I protect the Imsety which is in me [of] the Overseer of the Builders of Amun, Amenhotep, revered by Imsety.”
Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (CC0)