How many canopic jars were typically used in mummification?

The story behind the answer

4. Ancient Egyptian embalmers used four canopic jars to hold the major organs removed during mummification: the liver (Imsety, human-headed), lungs (Hapy, baboon), stomach (Duamutef, jackal), and intestines (Qebehsenuef, falcon). The heart was left in the body for the “Weighing of the Heart,” and the brain was usually discarded, so no jars were needed for them.

Each jar was protected by one of the Four Sons of Horus and linked to a direction and a protective goddess, reinforcing cosmic order. Memory tip: think “Life’s Little Survival Kit—4 parts”: Lungs, Liver, Stomach, Intestines, each guarded by a distinct animal head.