Qebehsenuef

Qebehsenuef is a deity in ancient Egyptian religion, one of the four sons of Horus. Along with Imsety, Hapy, and Duamutef, he guarded the organs of the deceased during mummification. Qebehsenuef is specifically associated with the intestines, which were preserved for the afterlife and placed in one of the canopic jars.

Iconography and role: He is usually depicted as a falcon-headed man. In funerary art and canopic equipment, Qebehsenuef is shown as the guardian of the intestines, entrusted with protecting that organ within the corresponding canopic jar.

Historical context: The Four Sons of Horus appear across Egyptian history in tomb depictions and canopic equipment from the Old Kingdom onward. Their associations with particular organs and their guardianship reflect beliefs about protection of the deceased in the afterlife and the careful preparation of the body for eternity.

In scholarship and museum practice, Qebehsenuef is frequently discussed as part of the set of canopic deities, illustrating how ancient Egyptians organized mortuary ritual to safeguard the organs and ensure the deceased’s well-being in the afterlife.