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Duamutef

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In ancient Egyptian religion, Duamutef is one of the Four Sons of Horus and a protection god of the canopic jars. Commonly he is said to be the son of the god Horus the Elder. There is another myth that describes Duamutef and his brothers as sons of Osiris. According to this myth, they were born from a lily flower that arose from the primaeval ocean.

Contents

Definition

The name Duamutef means "He who adores his mother". In war the most significant cause of death was from injuries in the torso and stomach. The deity protecting this organ was associated with death by war, gaining the name Duamutef meaning adoring his motherland

Portrayal

First Duamutef was represented as a human wrapped in mummy bandages. From the New Kingdom he is shown with the head of a jackal. In some cases his appearance is confused or exchanged with that of Qebehsenuef so he has the head of a falcon and Qebehsenuef has the head of a jackal.

Duamutef usually was depicted on coffins and as the lid of canopic jars. Many images of the Judgement of the Dead show him together with his brothers in front of Osiris on a small lily flower.

Meaning as protection god of canopic jars

Together with the three other sons of Horus Imsety, Hapi and Qebehsenuef he protected the mummified internal organs. His duty was to protect the stomach. His protector is the goddess Neith.

References

Duamutef Wikipedia