Limestone
circa 900 BCE
Egypt
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Egypt
Theme
Ancient Societies
Subtheme
Death in Ancient Egypt – Living Beyond Death
Case Title
Ancient Egypt: Living beyond death
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Egypt
Measurements
31.5cm
Accession Number
EA9550
Description
During mummification, organs needed in the afterlife were removed to ‘canopic jars’, to be kept safe by the ‘Sons of Horus’. Falcon-headed Qebehsenuf protected the intestines, human-headed Imseti, the liver. The heart – probably likely considered the probable seat of intellect and the soul – was left in the body. The brain, deemed unnecessary, was thrown away.
