Question

What insight do the details of this artwork provide about the importance of organ preservation in Egyptian culture? Given the Egyptians’ belief in the afterlife, why do you think they preserved the organs in this way?

Why do you think Pharaohs and other important Egyptians were to be buried with the Ushabtis, or “helpers”?
(Write in 3-4 sentences)

Answer 1

The artwork suggests that the process of organ preservation was considered essential in Egyptian culture. The careful wrapping and placement of the organs in canopic jars indicates the significance placed on preserving these organs for the afterlife. This suggests that the Egyptians believed that the organs were needed in the afterlife for the deceased to maintain their bodily functions and continue their existence.

Pharaohs and other important Egyptians were buried with Ushabtis, or "helpers," because they were believed to serve as substitutes for the deceased in performing laborious tasks in the afterlife. Egyptians believed in an afterlife that mirrored their earthly life, and therefore, they wanted to ensure that they had servants to help them with mundane tasks in the afterlife. The Ushabtis were created to alleviate the deceased's responsibilities and allow them to enjoy a comfortable afterlife.