Item: Canopic jar

Material: Alabaster

Place of origin: Egypt

Date of origin: Dynasty XXVI (664-525 BC)

Accession number: 1724

Description: Canopic jars were used to preserve the viscera of the mummy. This particular one was made for a general, Psamtek. The falcon-headed lid, of Qebehsenuef, signifies that intestines were kept in this jar.

There are four canopic jars made of alabaster, stone or clay in which the inner parts (liver, lungs, stomach and intestines) were kept. There were hieroglyphic texts on the jars containing spells. Such jars became common after 2000 BC. The term "canopic jar" is a misnomer, connecting these with the human-headed containers worshipped by the inhabitants of the harbour Canopus.