Canopic Jars – What Are They?
reflect on it through this assignment. Name and Date of the Piece: Canopic Jars of Lady Senebtisi, Middle Kingdom Dynasty 12, Circa 1938-1759 B.C. Materials and Tools Used: The materials used for these Canopic Jars were stone, pottery and limestone paint. A Detailed Description of my Observation: These Canopic Jars were excavated by the British School of Archaeology in Egypt between the years 1913-1914. Traditionally Canopic jars were used to store a deceased person’s stomach, liver, lungs and intestines to be buried along with the deceased’s mummy. These vessels got its name “Canopic Jars” as a reference to a mythical Greek sailor named Canopus who died in Egypt and was worshipped there in the form of a jar. However the traditional practice of removing organs and packing them separately declined in the Middle kingdom so these Canopic jars of Lady Senebtisi were left empty and placed next to her tomb for reasons of magic and tradition. Speculation on the purpose and the message this wo
