<em>Canopic Chest</em>, ca. 380–30 B.C.E. Wood, stucco, pigment, 20 1/16 x 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 in. (51 x 22 x 24 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1390E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1390E_reference_SL1.jpg)

Canopic Chest, ca. 380–30 B.C.E. Wood, stucco, pigment, 20 1/16 x 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 in. (51 x 22 x 24 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1390E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1390E_reference_SL1.jpg)

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What species of bird is shown on the top of this chest?

The species depicted there is a falcon. This bird was the animal representation of the Egyptian god Sokar, a form of the sun-god sometimes combined with Osiris, god of the dead.

What organs are put in the Canopic jars?

The Canopic jars usually contained the liver, intestines, lungs, and stomach. The ancient Egyptians believed that these organs would be needed in the afterlife. The jars protected them so the deceased could bring them on their journey to the Afterlife.

What is this box?

That is a Canopic chest. It's designed to hold the jars that would have contained the preserved organs of mummies. If you look around the gallery, you will see examples of the kinds of jars that would be placed in such a case.

In what state would the organs have been in when the canopic chests were excavated?

The organs would have been mummified like the body. The remains would were very dehydrated and wrapped in linen. This chest would have held the jars with the organs inside.

The climate of ancient Egypt, being very dry and stable, allowed for the preservation of mummified remains. The dry sand, which early bodies were buried in, was a natural way of dehydrating the body. Ancient Egyptians would use that to create more elaborate procedures as time went on.

What's this?

That is an example of a Canopic chest. If you look around the galleries, you will see many examples of the kinds of jars that would have been held in this chest. The Canopic jars usually contained the liver, intestines, lungs, and stomach. The ancient Egyptians believed that these organs would be needed in the afterlife. The jars protected them so the deceased could bring them on their journey to the Afterlife. The chest's decoration is designed to help protect it.

What is the symbolism of these birds in the Mummy Chamber? It looks like a black own with a snake on its head.

It sounds like your describing a falcon possibly representing Horus or Re. Could you send an accession number found on the object's label?

It's on the Book of the Dead and on the Canopic Chest.

Thanks! Yes that is definitely a falcon. On the Canopic Chest, the bird is a symbol of the god Horus; the four sons of Horus were the guardians of the canopic jars.

On the Book of the Dead, if you see the falcon head with a sun-disk and cobra on his head, he is a symbol of Re, the sun god. He can been see on the Book of the Dead in his solar boat ready to make a journey across the sky.

That's cool thanks for the info! We are also wondering if there is a moon god. If you give us their name we can look it up!

There is indeed a moon god! The primary deity associated with the moon in ancient Egypt was Khonsu. He was the child of Amun, a very important deity in the New Kingdom and after, and his consort, Mut, a mother goddess associated with the earth.

Tell me more.

This box, known as a Canopic Chest, would have held Canopic jars like the ones you see in the case behind it. This chest was an eternal home for the mummified organs inside.

The patterning on the outside of the chest mimics architecture in ancient Egypt. The stripes represent what's known as a niched façade and at the top you can see a cavetto cornice decorated with a winged sundisk.

What kind of bird is this?

This is a falcon, an animal often associated with sky gods. In this case its a representation of the Egyptian god Sokar, a form of the sun-god sometimes combined with Osiris, king of the afterlife.

Canopic Chest

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Funerary Gallery 3, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

A canopic chest could be used to hold the jars for mummified internal organs. On the lid is the falcon-shaped god Sokar, a form of the sun-god sometimes combined with Osiris, god of the dead. The sides of the chest represent the starry sky, at the top; then a winged sun-disk crossing the sky; and the protective Sons of Horus positioned in a temple-like façade. Below the temple are hieroglyphs that repeat the phrases “all life and dominion” and “life and endurance,” both associated with Isis and Osiris.

MEDIUM Wood, stucco, pigment

Reportedly From: Saqqara, Egypt

DATES ca. 380–30 B.C.E.

DYNASTY Dynasty 26, or later

PERIOD Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

DIMENSIONS 20 1/16 x 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 in. (51 x 22 x 24 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.1390E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION One box of wood, painted and gilded. Decorated with doors and a shrine to represent the same within an enclosure. The upper edge bears a cavetto cornice; the lid is surmounted by a gilded and painted falcon. The front bears the representation of the shrine within an enclosure; surmounted by a winged sun disk, just below the cornice. The left side bears the figures of two of the sons of Horus; Duamutef and Imsety, standing above the same stylized enclosure as is pictured on the front. On the right side we have the other two sons of Horus shown-Kebehsenuef and Hapi. They too stand on the stylized enclosure. On the rear, flanked by two doors is a Djed pillar caped by the Atef and flanked by two "blood of Isis" signs. All sides are surmounted by the winged sun disc. Below each vignette runs a frieze of signs. Rich polychrome is used. Green, blue, red brown, yellow, white, black, and of course, gilding are seen. The box rests on a projecting base which in turn is supported by two wooden slats, front and rear. Condition: The rear exhibits a large disfiguring crack, running from just under the cornice to the base. Part of the split panel has warped inward. Right and left sides have experienced some paint loss due to rubbing and exhibit areas of cracking of gesso (left side especially). Left side bears a large damage on the right hand margin. The fragments have been solidified and at some past date and are adhering in a "clump". Most all of the seams are "sprung", revealing the dwelling technique and the fact that the box was composed from many smaller fragments of wood. The lid has lost much gesso from this front edge, but has survived fairly well. A great deal of yellow paint has been rubbed off. The base is missing a great deal of both paint and gesso. Especially at the left rear and left front edges in this noticeable. A crackle pattern covers the entire surface. The box was meant to contain a canopic jar.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Funerary Gallery 3, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Canopic Chest, ca. 380–30 B.C.E. Wood, stucco, pigment, 20 1/16 x 8 11/16 x 9 7/16 in. (51 x 22 x 24 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.1390E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.1390E_reference_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 37.1390E_reference_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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