COLLECTIONS > Ancient Egypt > Canopic jar

Canopic jar

A container for internal organs

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This broken jar is one of a set of so-called ‘canopic jars’, which ancient Egyptian embalmers used during the process of mummification. Each jar would contain the dried, preserved remains of either the liver, lungs, stomach, or intestines. These were removed from the body to prevent decay. This jar belonged to a lady called Hathor who lived around 1200 BC.