Egyptians are commonly recognized to practice detailed rituals at the time of burial. Among the various items used for performing rituals, the Canopic jar chests found a significant place. Many organs were removed from the corpse, before it was mummified. These organs were kept in Canopic jars, which were again kept in a Canopic chest. This chest was then kept beside the tomb in a sacred area known as the Canopic shrine.
As per ancient Egyptian belief the deceased had the ability to return to its body if it willed. For this reason they considered it imperative to preserve the different organs. The entire mummification process where the organs would be taken out and stored in these jars to be kept in the chest was quite elaborate and could take numerous days.
It was in the second Dynasty that using Canopic chests originated. Over the days the Canopic jar chests were modified every now and then depicting several types of designs. They were in use until the beginning of the Ptolemaic period.
The earliest proven evidence of Canopic burials dates back to the fourth Dynasty and was found at Giza in the tomb of Queen Meresankh III. This was during the time period of the reign of Menkaure. Instances of Canopic burials have also been found from the tombs that were made during the reign of Sneferu.
The earliest Canopic jars contained the organs in firmly sealed wooden boxes. In some cases they would be placed inside pottery or stone jars and then the jars would be shut with domed or flat lids. The chests themselves were carved out of soft stone. In other instances the chest was in fact carved into the floor or wall of a certain tomb.
By the sixth Dynasty the Canopic jar chests were being made from granite. By the 1700s a wide variety of materials were used to create the chests including wood, cartonnage, limestone and calcite.
Over the years, the Canopic jars wherein the organs of the corpse were kept were also modified. At first these jars were made of stone and covered with flat lids. These were then modified to have dome-shaped lids.
Following this the Egyptians tried a number of different materials which they utilized to create the jars. These jars contained four organs which were the liver, the stomach, the lungs and the intestines. Each one of these organs was associated with specific deities.
Over the years, many modifications of the Canopic jars were conceptualized, but some were applied to them. In some jars the lids were sculpted to portray jackal heads. This was supposed to portray the four sons of Horus. Every organ was related to a son, and they were given protection by another Egyptian deity possessing more power.
As per ancient Egyptian belief the deceased had the ability to return to its body if it willed. For this reason they considered it imperative to preserve the different organs. The entire mummification process where the organs would be taken out and stored in these jars to be kept in the chest was quite elaborate and could take numerous days.
It was in the second Dynasty that using Canopic chests originated. Over the days the Canopic jar chests were modified every now and then depicting several types of designs. They were in use until the beginning of the Ptolemaic period.
The earliest proven evidence of Canopic burials dates back to the fourth Dynasty and was found at Giza in the tomb of Queen Meresankh III. This was during the time period of the reign of Menkaure. Instances of Canopic burials have also been found from the tombs that were made during the reign of Sneferu.
The earliest Canopic jars contained the organs in firmly sealed wooden boxes. In some cases they would be placed inside pottery or stone jars and then the jars would be shut with domed or flat lids. The chests themselves were carved out of soft stone. In other instances the chest was in fact carved into the floor or wall of a certain tomb.
By the sixth Dynasty the Canopic jar chests were being made from granite. By the 1700s a wide variety of materials were used to create the chests including wood, cartonnage, limestone and calcite.
Over the years, the Canopic jars wherein the organs of the corpse were kept were also modified. At first these jars were made of stone and covered with flat lids. These were then modified to have dome-shaped lids.
Following this the Egyptians tried a number of different materials which they utilized to create the jars. These jars contained four organs which were the liver, the stomach, the lungs and the intestines. Each one of these organs was associated with specific deities.
Over the years, many modifications of the Canopic jars were conceptualized, but some were applied to them. In some jars the lids were sculpted to portray jackal heads. This was supposed to portray the four sons of Horus. Every organ was related to a son, and they were given protection by another Egyptian deity possessing more power.
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