SELKET - GUARDIAN OF THE CANOPIC JARS FOR TUTANKHAMUN

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This replica  was acquired in Mar 2008.  

The original Selket, Scorpion goddess statue was from the Tomb of King Tutanhkamun. She guarded the great gilded chest containing King Tutanhkamun's canopic jars.

The canopic jars were used to store the internal organs of the deceased. The organs were removed before the body was mummified as they contain liquid and decompose easily - affecting the preservation process.

The Egyptians believed that the soul will require the body and the internal organs for the next life. 

Later, when more advanced forms and techniques of mummification were used the practice of placing the canopic jars continued.

External links:

  1. Wikipedia - Canopic jar / Serket
  2. Blurt it - What was the canopic jar used for?
  3. PubMed - A god for guts
  4. Oracle ThinkQuest - Mummies and the after life

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updated on Friday, April 04, 2008
© 2007