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Canopic Jar and Cover of Tjuli

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Funerary Gallery 3, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Priests separately mummified the stomach, liver, lungs, and intestines, to be placed in jars, in the most expensive method of mummification described by Herodotus. The practice of removing the organs and packing them separately declined in the Middle Kingdom and later, yet Egyptians still included canopic jars in burials. And while the covers of Middle Kingdom canopic jars all have human heads, by the New Kingdom the jars of the royal scribe of Ramesses II, named Tjuli, had human, baboon, jackal, and falcon heads.
MEDIUM Egyptian alabaster (calcite)
  • Place Made: Saqqara, Egypt
  • DATES ca. 1279–1213 B.C.E.
    DYNASTY Dynasty 19
    PERIOD New Kingdom
    DIMENSIONS 18 1/2 × 6 11/16 in. (47 × 17 cm) mount (supported by plaicre): 18 1/8 × 8 1/16 × 8 1/16 in. (46 × 20.5 × 20.5 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 48.30.3a-b
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION One of four alabaster canopic jars of the Royal Scribe and Chief lector priest, Thenry. Jars of tall, slender form swelling out at the shoulders and then in to neck. Front of each jar decorated with incised panel running almost entire height of body. On upper part of each panel Thenry stands to right worshipping a standing representation of the same god as represented on cover. Inscriptions: one row above reliefs, one column between reliefs, and four columns below figures. Covers in form of heads of Sons of Horus. Each fitted with collar with interior of cover partially hollowed out. Remains of color. Condition: Excellent. Scattered natural defects in stone probably originally filled with plaster. Front base of cover of Duamutef chipped. Most of color lost
    CAPTION Canopic Jar and Cover of Tjuli, ca. 1279–1213 B.C.E. Egyptian alabaster (calcite), 18 1/2 × 6 11/16 in. (47 × 17 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 48.30.3a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 48.30.3a-b_PS9.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 48.30.3a-b_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2020
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