The organs deposited in these vessels previously went through a washing and embalming process. In the next step, the glasses were placed in a wooden box that, during the procession, was moved on a kind of sled, thus forming part of the ceremonious burial of the dead in Ancient Egypt.
There were four types of canopic jars that, in turn, came to represent the sons of Horus: Amset, the jar with a human head, preserved the liver; Hapy was the glass that had the lid in the shape of a baboon’s head and in it the lungs were kept; Kebeshenuef was the vessel with the head of a falcon, to house the intestines, and Duamutef was shaped like a jackal and kept the stomach of the dead.
Canopic jars may be some of the most beautiful works of art carved by the ancient Egyptians, for when an ancient Egyptian passed away, they began the most important journey they would ever take.
Other names by which this species of chest was also known was canopic, canopic or canopic.