Existing comment:
Khera, son of Esortais, was a scribe important enough to warrant an expensive set of alabaster vessels for his tomb. These jars still contain his organs. Preparing a mummy required the removal and treatment of internal organs to ensure their preservation. The organs were dried, washed, wrapped, and placed in a set of four jars buried in the tomb with the deceased. The jars were usually secured in a wooden box.
Each lid if carved in the form of one of the sons of Horus, the gods who protected specific organs. The stomach was guarded by Duamutef, the jackal-headed deity, and the lungs by Hapy, the baboon-headed god. Qebhesenuef was the falcon-headed god who guarded the intestines, and human-headed Imsety was charged to guard the liver. The inscriptions on each jar are prayers to the respective divinity responsible for the organ within. |