I have decided to knock up a few art history related art lessons. One of the first lessons is on Egyptian art history. We will learn about canopic jars, and then create our own jars with a twist. Originally, canopic jars were carved out of alabaster, and they preserved the viscera of a mummy. Part of the Egyptian belief system, involved a strong theory of the after life. It was thought that a person had to have all of their organs in order to continue on to the after life. Mummification could not be successfully completed with all of the organs remaining in the body. So, the organs were removed, and small pieces of them were stored in canopic jars, which were then stored in the tomb. The brain was removed through the nose, with a long hook, and then thrown away. The heart was considered to be the most important organ, so it was left in during the mummification process.
The jars traditionally had lids which were shaped like specific Egyptian gods, the four sons of Horus: Imsety was a human god who protected the liver, Hapy was a baboon-headed god who looked after the lungs, Duamutef had the head of a jackal and guarded the stomach, and Qebehsenuef was a falcon who protected the intestines.
Some canopic jars were made from other types of carved stone, or wood. Many were made of pottery. That's where we come in! We are going to create our own canopic jars, in a style of our own.
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| Alice Version |
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| Ceramic Reproductions |
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| Modern Owl |
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| Hieroglyphics |
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| My Versions |
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| Ancient Jar |
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| Tourist Tsotchkes |
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| Daphne Christoforou |
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