How Are Canopic Jars Made?
Canopic jars were an integral part of the ancient Egyptian mummification process. These containers held the mummified internal organs of the deceased. The ancient Egyptians believed the preservation of the body was essential for passage into the afterlife.
The earliest canopic jars date from the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom, around 2600 BCE. Their use became standardized during the New Kingdom around 1500 BCE. The name “canopic” likely comes from the legend of Canopus, the pilot of Menelaus, who was said to be buried in a jar in the Egyptian town of Canopus.
The preservation of the internal organs in canopic jars was an important part of mummifying the body. The ancient Egyptians believed the organs were essential for the afterlife. Each jar held one organ – the stomach, intestines, lungs, and liver. The jars were placed in the tomb near the mummy so they could be reunited with the body in the afterlife.
Materials Used
Canopic jars were made from a variety of materials including various stones, clays and pottery. The specific materials used depended on the time period and burial customs.
Early canopic jars were often carved from limestone or other soft stones. These types of stone were easier to carve and shape using the tools available in ancient Egypt. Limestone was abundant, especially around the Nile valley region where most of the population lived. The softness of limestone made it ideal for intricate carvings and inscriptions.
Clay was another common material for canopic jars. The ancient Egyptians had developed advanced pottery and ceramics skills. Fired clay created durable vessels that could hold up over centuries in a burial tomb. Local Nile clays provided an abundant source material. Certain clays with higher iron content fired to a deeper red color associated with the deities linked to each canopic jar.
In later periods, more decorative and ornamental materials were sometimes used for royal burials. These included travertine, a form of limestone that took polish well. Alabaster was also prized for its creamy white color that emphasized carved hieroglyphs and decorations. The rarest canopic jars could be made from costly materials like ebony, ivory or gold.
These material choices both practical and symbolic reasons. Stones like limestone were readily available locally while clays perfectly suited pottery techniques. Materials like alabaster and travertine created ornate vessels befitting royalty. And the substance of the jars mirrored Egyptian beliefs about life after death.
Carving and Shaping Process
Ancient Egyptian artisans used various methods and tools to carve canopic jars out of materials like limestone, calcite, travertine, and alabaster. For stone vessels, they often started with a rectangular block of stone and used copper or bronze chisels and mallets to carefully chip away at the exterior. More advanced techniques like drilling and abrading were also employed to hollow out the interior of the jar.
For shaping canopic jars from clay or pottery, the potter would form the basic vessel shape on a pottery wheel, then use their hands, simple wood or bone tools, and leather-hard techniques to refine the details. The jar would be left to dry to a leather-hard state, allowing the surface to become firm enough for carving details like facial features or hieroglyphics before the final firing. The potter’s wheel enabled forming symmetrical jars quickly, while the leather-hard stage gave artisans time to decorate the surface in detail.
Lids and stoppers for the jars were carved and shaped using similar techniques and tools as the main body. The lids were often carved as the heads of the four sons of Horus – Imsety, Duamutef, Hapy, and Qebehsenuef – who protected the organs. Whether carved from stone or shaped from Nile clay, canopic jar artisans had a mastery of tools and materials to produce finely crafted vessels.
Decoration and Painting
Canopic jars were ornately decorated with rich symbolism and intricate designs. The most common motifs painted on the jars were protective gods and goddesses like Isis, Nephthys, Neith and Serket. These deities guarded the organs inside the jars. Symbols like the djed pillar, theEye of Horus, and floral designs were also prevalent, imbuing spiritual meaning and conferring magical protection.
The ancient Egyptians used a range of paints and gilding techniques to beautify the canopic jars. Common pigments were derived from minerals like azurite, malachite, and ochre to produce deep blues, greens, yellows, reds and metallic sheens. Gilding with gold leaf was reserved for royal jars. Paints were made by grinding pigments and mixing with a gum Arabic binder. Brushes fashioned from reeds allowed artisans to delicately trace fine details like hieroglyphs and decorative borders. The jars were first shaped, then a white background wash was applied before the intricate designs were painstakingly painted on.
Lids and Stoppers
The lids for canopic jars were intricately carved to represent the heads of the four sons of Horus. Each son was associated with one of the four organs stored in the canopic jars and served as the protector of that organ. The four sons and their corresponding canopic jar lids were:
- Imsety – Human headed lid – Protected the liver
- Hapy – Baboon headed lid – Protected the lungs
- Duamutef – Jackal headed lid – Protected the stomach
- Qebehsenuef – Falcon headed lid – Protected the intestines
The lids were meticulously carved from the same materials as the canopic jars – stone, pottery, or wood. The sculpting process involved first roughing out the basic shape from a solid block of material using copper chisels. Sandstone and limestone blocks were easier to carve than granites. The facial features and other intricate details were then skillfully carved with smaller copper and flint tools. The lids were polished with smooth stones to create a refined, glossy finish.
The sons of Horus iconography for the lids was deeply symbolic. It provided magical protection for the organs inside and imbued sacred powers to aid in the deceased’s journey to the afterlife. The vivid colors and fine details gave the lids an animated, lifelike quality despite being carved from inorganic materials. This reflected the Egyptian belief that depicting things in their ideal eternal form could magically cause them to be manifested as such in the afterlife. The striking lids remain an iconic symbol of ancient Egyptian culture and funerary practices.
Inscriptions and Markings
Canopic jars were typically inscribed with hieroglyphs and symbols to indicate the name of the deceased as well as prayers and protective spells. The four sons of Horus, who were the gods associated with the protection of the organs stored in the jars, were also depicted.
The name of the deceased was usually written vertically in a column on the body of the jar. This inscription identified who the organs belonged to so they could be properly reunited with the mummy. Various protective prayers and spells would be included, asking the gods to watch over and preserve the organs for the afterlife.
Each canopic jar would be marked with the specific protective god associated with the organ inside – Imsety for the liver, Hapy for the lungs, Duamutef for the stomach, and Qebehsenuef for the intestines. Their heads or figures were painted or carved onto the lids or stoppers. Other symbols such as the djed pillar and various hieroglyphs were inscribed for protection.
These inscriptions and markings served both a practical purpose of identifying the deceased and organs, as well as a spiritual purpose of invoking divine protection through prayers and symbols.
Internal Parts
The inside of a canopic jar was just as important as the outside appearance. The jars contained the preserved organs of the deceased, so they needed to be properly constructed to protect the contents.
The inside of the jar would be lined with cloth or linen to cushion the organs. The linen helped absorb any leftover moisture or liquids during the mummification process. Some linens were scented with fragrant oils or spices to further preserve the organs.
The jars often contained vertical and horizontal compartments or trays to separate each organ. The four organs removed during mummification – the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines – were each stored in their own section.
The compartments kept the organs from mixing together. The solid trays or platforms also prevented damage to the organs as the jars were moved.
This internal separation allowed the organs to be individually protected and preserved. The internal construction of the jars was just as integral to the mummification process as the carved exteriors.
Mummification Process Role
Canopic jars played an essential role in the ancient Egyptian mummification process. During mummification, the internal organs were removed from the deceased’s body and preserved separately in canopic jars.
Each canopic jar contained a specific organ that was considered vital for the afterlife. The four sons of the god Horus were assigned guardianship over the organs:
- Imsety protected the liver, stored in the human-headed canopic jar.
- Qebehsenuef protected the intestines, stored in the falcon-headed jar.
- Hapi protected the lungs, stored in the baboon-headed jar.
- Duamutef protected the stomach, stored in the jackal-headed jar.
Placing the organs in canopic jars blessed by the four sons of Horus ensured their preservation for eternal afterlife. It held deep ritualistic importance in completing the mummification rituals. The ancient Egyptians believed mummifying the body and organs intact would allow the soul to return to it after death.
Without properly storing the organs in the respective canopic jars, the Egyptians feared the soul could not reunite with the body or attain everlasting life. This made canopic jars a central feature of elaborate burial ceremonies for pharaohs and elites seeking eternal preservation.
After Entombment
The intact canopic jars discovered by archaeologists provide a fascinating glimpse into ancient Egyptian funerary practices. When a tomb is opened after thousands of years, the canopic jars are often found carefully packed in the burial chamber near the sarcophagus. This reflects how they were reverently placed near the mummy during the embalming process.
While many intact canopic jars have survived to the present day, archaeologists have also discovered damaged jars that were accidentally broken over the centuries. This breakage sometimes occurred during the ancient robbery of tombs by thieves looking for valuables. Jars were also damaged by the passage of time and the gradual shifting or collapse of tomb structures.
Despite some breakage, the discovery of surviving jars allows modern researchers to examine the intricate craftsmanship and symbolic meaning. The continued discovery of canopic jars in Egyptian tombs provide an intriguing window into the complex process of mummification and the religious beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife.
Significance and Legacy
Canopic jars have tremendous cultural and historical significance due to their intricate connection with the ancient Egyptian mummification process and afterlife beliefs. They provide a tangible link to how this advanced civilization sought to preserve the body for a successful transition into the next world.
The ritualistic practice of canopic jar creation and usage lasted for thousands of years, demonstrating their enormous cultural value. Even after the mummification process changed, canopic jars continued to hold symbolic meaning. The jars represent the importance of protecting the deceased’s organs, which were viewed as sacred.
Canopic jars also offer insight into Egyptian religious beliefs, mythology, funerary practices, and reverence for the afterlife. The jars were adorned with the heads of the four sons of Horus, who were tasked with safeguarding the organs. This reflects the integration of mythology into burial rituals.
In addition, canopic jars provide evidence of excellent Egyptian artisanship. The vessels were made from materials like limestone and alabaster and intricately decorated in paints and gold leaf. The beauty and detail of canopic jars showcase the skills of ancient Egyptian artists and artistry.
Today, many intact canopic jars exist in museum collections around the world. They are prized for their historic value and artistic merit. Even thousands of years later, these jars vividly reflect the cultural beliefs and funerary practices of ancient Egypt. Their lasting legacy continues to illuminate this fascinating civilization.
