Free learning resources from arts,
cultural and heritage organisations

All Images

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• Teachers' Notes
• Mummification Step by Step
• Guardians of the Internal Organs
• Treasures of the Mummies
• Ancient Egypt at Harrogate Museums and Arts

• Smaller Text
• Larger Text
• Print

A Step by Step guide to Egyptian Mummification

Guardians of the Internal Organs

Canopic Jars

The mummy’s internal organs were dried out and stored in canopic jars. These jars were placed in a canopic chest in the burial chamber of the mummy.

 

There were four canopic jars and each had a different stopper or lid depicting:

1. Imsety, a person’s head guarded the liver
2. Qebhesneuf, a falcon watched over the intestines
3. Hapy, a baboon protected the lungs
4. Duamutef, a jackal looked after the stomach

These were the four sons of Horus. Horus was the ancient Egyptian God of the sky and the protecter of the Pharaoh. He was usually depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon's head.