Name: What's Inside These Ancient Egyptian Jars?
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Hidden for nearly 3,000 years, a beautifully preserved canopic jar is discovered in Egypt. These sacred vessels, adorned with symbolic heads, played a vital role in protecting the deceased in the afterlife. Learn more about ancient Egyptian burial traditions and how they honored the dead.

A nearly 3,000-year-old canopic jar is discovered in an Egyptian tomb.

What's Inside These Ancient Egyptian Jars?

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Hidden for nearly 3,000 years, a beautifully preserved canopic jar is discovered in Egypt. These sacred vessels, adorned with symbolic heads, played a vital role in protecting the deceased in the afterlife. Learn more about ancient Egyptian burial traditions and how they honored the dead.

A nearly 3,000-year-old canopic jar is discovered in an Egyptian tomb. Learn more about these ancient burial traditions.

A nearly 3,000-year-old canopic jar is discovered in an Egyptian tomb. Learn more about these ancient burial traditions.

Ancient Worlds

What's Inside These Ancient Egyptian Jars?Published: March 19, 2025Narrator: In tomb number six, Afifi has found a vessel.Afifi Rohim: We found one of the canopic jars, it's from fine limestone, and even the sculpture of the faces is so good.Narrator: During the mummification process, the organs of the deceased would be removed and placed in these containers. They're known as canopic jars.Afifi Rohim: Each burial have four canopic jars for organs of the deceased.Narrator: Each jar is topped with a different symbolic sculpture. The heads represent the four sons of the god, Horus. Each was responsible for protecting a particular organ, the jackal for the stomach, the human head for the liver, the baboon for the lungs, and the falcon for the intestines.Afifi Rohim: It's empty.Narrator: Afifi is looking for any inscription which could give us the name of the owner of this tomb.Afifi Rohim: “Djerek saa,” means something related to Osir.Narrator: The inscription is a prayer to the god, Osiris, ruler of the underworld.Afifi Rohim: I see the base of the lid, it's complete. No cracks, nothing.Narrator: The jars have been hiding in the tomb for nearly 3000 years. Before they can be taken out, conservator Saham Abdel Azim needs to carefully protect this ancient writing with a water-soluble cellulose binder. The jars don't reveal the name of the deceased, but Afifi believes there are more artifacts waiting to be found.

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What's Inside These Ancient Egyptian Jars?

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