Egyptian Faience Amulets: Sons of Horus

An ancient Egyptian white faience set of amulets of the Four Sons of Horus, the guardians of the mummy’s organs in the afterlife: Imsety (man), Qebsenuef, (falcon), Hapi (baboon), and Duamutef, (jackal); with two scarab wings, and two heads of Horus as a falcon.

Late Period, 26th - 30th Dynasty,
Ca. 664 - 343 BC.
Height of tallest: 2 in. (5.1 cm)

The four sons of Horus were a group of four gods (Hapi, Imsety, Duamutef, and Qebehsenuef) in Egyptian religion, who were essentially the personifications of the four canopic jars, which accompanied mummified bodies. Since the heart was thought to embody the soul, it was left inside the body. The brain was thought only to be the origin of mucus, so it was reduced to liquid, syphoned off, and discarded. This left the stomach (and small intestines), liver, large intestines, and lungs, which were removed, embalmed and stored, each organ in its own jar.

Formerly in a French private collection; subsequently in a Washington DC private collection.
Inv#: 8572
Guaranteed Authentic

$5,000

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