Canopic Chest Of Tutankhamun

Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

This small alabaster chest with its canopic jars was placed inside the canopic shrine seen in the previous photo. Each jar held a miniature golden sarcophagus where the pharaoh's mummified organ was laid to rest. The heads in the photo are the stoppers of the canopic jars. They are made in the likeness of Tutankhamun, who wears the vulture and cobra of upper and lower Egypt. The four canopic goddesses, with protective arms outstretched, are sculpted in relief on the corners of the chest.

The left strip of hieroglyphs refers to Isis, in her role as the protector of Imsety (the liver). The right strip incorrectly identifies Neith as the protector of Kebehsenuef.