Late Period, 664-332 BC. A limestone canopic jar with tapering body and wide flat base; lid in the form of the jackal-headed Duamutef wearing a bag wig. 6.31 kg, 30cm (12"). Property of a Jerusalem gentleman; inherited from his father who acquired them in the 1970s. Duamutef was the the jackal-headed son of Horus who protected the stomach of the deceased and was in turn protected by the goddess Neith. It seems that his role was to worship the dead person, and his name means literally he who worships his mother. In the Coffin Texts Horus calls upon him, Come and worship my father for me, just as you went that you might worship my mother Isis in your name Duamutef. Isis had a dual role. Not only was she the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus, but she was also the consort of Horus the Elder and thus the mother of the sons of Horus. This ambiguity is added to when Duamutef calls Osiris, rather than Horus his father, although kinship terms were used very loosely, and father can be used as ancestor and son as descendant. In Spell 151 of the Book of the Dead Duamutef is given the following words to say: I have come to rescue my father Osiris from his assailant. The text does not make it clear who might assail Osiris, although there are two major candidates. The obvious one is Set, the murderer of Osiris. Somehow the son who worships his mother Isis is able to assist in overcoming Set. The other possibility is Apophis, the serpent demon who prevents the Sun's passage and thus the resurrection of Osiris. Either way, Duamutef through his worship of Isis has the power to protect the deceased from harm. Duamutef was also considered one of the four pillars of Shu, a rudder of heaven, and was associated with the east.

Fine condition.