canopic jar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “canopic jar” mean?
A covered urn used in ancient Egyptian funerary rituals to contain the embalmed internal organs of a deceased person, typically the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A covered urn used in ancient Egyptian funerary rituals to contain the embalmed internal organs of a deceased person, typically the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
In modern contexts, the term can refer to any similarly shaped container in archaeological contexts or museum displays related to ancient Egypt, and is used metaphorically in art or literature to symbolize preservation, antiquity, or the macabre.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical connotations of archaeology, antiquity, and death rituals.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specialised contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “canopic jar” in a Sentence
The [material] canopic jar contained [organ][Number] canopic jars were discovered in the [location]A canopic jar for the [organ]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canopic jar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The term cannot be verbed in standard British English.
American English
- The term cannot be verbed in standard American English.
adverb
British English
- The term cannot be used as an adverb.
American English
- The term cannot be used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The canopic jar collection was impressive.
- A canopic-jar stopper was missing.
American English
- The canopic jar display was a highlight.
- They studied the canopic-jar inscriptions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in archaeology, Egyptology, and art history papers and lectures. 'The study analysed the resin residues within three canopic jars from the 18th Dynasty.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might be used in museums or documentary contexts.
Technical
Central term in Egyptology for a specific artifact type. Precise descriptions of materials, inscriptions, and provenance are typical.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canopic jar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “canopic jar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canopic jar”
- Misspelling as 'canoptic', 'canopean', or 'canopic vase'. Using it for non-Egyptian contexts. Assuming it held the entire body or just the heart (the heart was usually left in the body).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines. The heart was usually left in the body, and the brain was discarded.
A set of four jars was standard, one for each of the specified organs.
No, their use is entirely historical and specific to ancient Egyptian burial practices up to the Ptolemaic period.
They are commonly displayed in major museums with Egyptian collections, such as the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
A covered urn used in ancient Egyptian funerary rituals to contain the embalmed internal organs of a deceased person, typically the liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines.
Canopic jar is usually technical, academic, historical in register.
Canopic jar: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌnəʊpɪk ˈdʒɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˌnoʊpɪk ˈdʒɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The term is too specific for idiomatic use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CAN OPener? No! CANOPIC jar. Imagine a JAR with a CANOPY (lid) used by ancient Egyptians to 'CAN' (preserve) organs.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR ESSENCE (The jar is a vessel preserving a vital part of the person for the afterlife).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary function of a canopic jar in ancient Egypt?