The Four Sons of Heru

[Senbecc]

The four sons of Heru

Duamutef

Duamutef (Tuamutef) - "Praising his mother" One of the "Four Sons of Heru" depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Wesir in the Underworld, Duamutef is depicted as a jackal-headed mummified human on funerary furniture and especially the "canopic" jars which held the organs of the deceased (Duamutef's jar held the stomach). Later Hermetic philosophers would equate Duamutef with the element of earth because of his association with the funerary protectress Nit and the direction of north.

Duamutef is one of the four sons of Horus, he was portrayed as a mummified jackal.

Horus (the elder) had numerous wives and children, and his 'four sons' were grouped together and generally said to be born of Isis. Duamutef was one. The other three were Imsety, Hapy and Qebehsenuef. They were born from a lotus flower and were solar gods associated with the creation. They were retrieved from the waters of Nun by Sobek on the orders of Re. It was believed that Anubis gave them the funerary duties of mummification, the Opening of the Mouth, the burial of Osiris and all men. Horus later made them protectors of the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west). In the Hall of Ma'at they sat on a lotus flower in front of Osiris. Most commonly, however, they were remembered as the protectors of the internal organs of the deceased. Each son protected an organ, and each son was protected by a goddess.

Duamutef's role was to protect the stomach of the deceased and was the guardian of the East. He was protected by the goddess Neith.

Duamutef was a god of Egyptian mythology. He was the guardian of the East and one of the four Sons of Horus. Duamutef was represented as a mummified man with the head of a jackal. He was a funerary god. Duamutef protected the stomach of the deceased. The stomach was kept in a canopic jar after mummification. On the lids of these jars was a picture of the head of Duamutef. The goddess Neith protected him.

Hapy

"Runner" One of the "Four Sons of Heru" depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Wesir in the Underworld, Hapy is depicted as a baboon-headed mummified human on funerary furniture and especially the "canopic" jars which held the organs of the deceased (Hapy's jar held the lungs). Later Hermetic philosophers would equate Hapy with the element of air because of his association with the funerary protectress Nebt-het and the direction of east.

Hapy is one of the four sons of Horus, he was portrayed as a mummy with the head of a baboon.

Horus (the elder) had numerous wives and children, and his 'four sons' were grouped together and generally said to be born of Isis. Hapy was one. The other three were Imsety, Duamutef and Qebehsenuef. They were born from a lotus flower and were solar gods associated with the creation. They were retrieved from the waters of Nun by Sobek on the orders of Re. It was believed that Anubis gave them the funerary duties of mummification, the Opening of the Mouth, the burial of Osiris and all men. Horus later made them protectors of the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west). In the Hall of Ma'at they sat on a lotus flower in front of Osiris. Most commonly, however, they were remembered as the protectors of the internal organs of the deceased. Each son protected an organ, and each son was protected by a goddess.

Hapy's role was to protect the lungs of the deceased and was the guardian of the North. He was protected by the goddess Nephthys. He is sometimes confused with the Nile-god "Hapi".

Imset

(Amset; WB Meshtha) "The Kindly One" One of the "Four Sons of Heru" depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Wesir in the Underworld, Imset is depicted as a mummified human wearing the "nemes" headcloth on funerary furniture and especially the "canopic" jars which held the organs of the deceased (Imset's jar held the liver). Later Hermetic philosophers would equate Imset with the element of water because of his association with the funerary protectress Aset and the direction of west.

Imsety is one of the four sons of Horus, he was portrayed as a mummified human.

Horus (the elder) had numerous wives and children, and his 'four sons' were grouped together and generally said to be born of Isis. Imsety was one. The other three were Duamutef, Hapy and Qebehsenuef. They were born from a lotus flower and were solar gods associated with the creation. They were retrieved from the waters of Nun by Sobek on the orders of Re. It was believed that Anubis gave them the funerary duties of mummification, the Opening of the Mouth, the burial of Osiris and all men. Horus later made them protectors of the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west). In the Hall of Ma'at they sat on a lotus flower in front of Osiris. Most commonly, however, they were remembered as the protectors of the internal organs of the deceased. Each son protected an organ, and each son was protected by a goddess.

Imsety's role was to protect the liver of the deceased and was the guardian of the South. He was protected by the goddess Isis.

Qebshenef

"Cooling his brother (with water)" One of the "Four Sons of Heru" depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Wesir in the Underworld, Qebshenef is depicted as a hawk-headed mummified human on funerary furniture and especially the "canopic" jars which held the organs of the deceased (Qebshenef's jar held the intestines). Later Hermetic philosophers would equate Qebshenef with the element of fire because of his association with the funerary protectress Serqet and the direction of south.

Qebehsenuef is one of the four sons of Horus, he was portrayed as a mummified falcon.

Horus (the elder) had numerous wives and children, and his 'four sons' were grouped together and generally said to be born of Isis. Qebehsenuef was one. The other three were Imsety, Hapy and Duamutef. They were born from a lotus flower and were solar gods associated with the creation. They were retrieved from the waters of Nun by Sobek on the orders of Re. It was believed that Anubis gave them the funerary duties of mummification, the Opening of the Mouth, the burial of Osiris and all men. Horus later made them protectors of the four cardinal points (north, south, east and west). In the Hall of Ma'at they sat on a lotus flower in front of Osiris. Most commonly, however, they were remembered as the protectors of the internal organs of the deceased. Each son protected an organ, and each son was protected by a goddess.

Qebehsenuef's role was to protect the intestines of the deceased and was the guardian of the West. He was protected by the goddess Selket.

www.kemet.org/glossary/four_sons_of_heru.html

www.egyptianmyths.net/qebehsenuef.htm

www.pantheon.org/articles/s/sons_of_horus.html