Duamutef

Duamutef is one of the Four Sons of Horus in ancient Egyptian religion. He is depicted with the head of a jackal and is the guardian associated with the stomach. In ancient funerary practice, the stomach was preserved in one of the canopic jars dedicated to Duamutef, which were placed with the mummy to protect the internal organs in the afterlife.

The other three canopic guardians are Imsety, who watches over the liver (human head); Qebehsenuef, who guards the intestines (falcon head); and Hapy, who protects the lungs (often depicted with a baboon head). Together, the four deities symbolize protection and the proper nourishment and preservation of the deceased for the journey after death. They frequently appear in tomb reliefs, funerary papyri, and on canopic jars, accompanied by spells and offerings intended to aid the deceased.

In broader practice, the Four Sons of Horus were an integral part of Egyptian funerary religion, reflecting the belief that divine guardians watched over the body and its essential organs to ensure a safe and successful rebirth. Duamutef’s role specifically emphasizes the stomach’s preservation and protection as part of the mummification process.