Who were the four canopic jars named after?

The correct answer, which identifies the four canopic jars as named after the Four Sons of Horus, is rooted in ancient Egyptian funerary practices. In this context, canopic jars were used to hold and preserve the internal organs of a deceased individual for the afterlife. Each of the Four Sons of Horus acted as a protector for a specific organ, reflecting their symbolic connection to different aspects of protection and care for the body in the context of Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.

The Sons of Horus include Imsety, who looked after the liver; Hapy, responsible for the lungs; Duamutef, who protected the stomach; and Qebehsenuef, who safeguarded the intestines. This system illustrated not only the religious significance of the afterlife but also demonstrated the Egyptians’ intricate understanding of anatomy and the importance they placed on preserving the body for eternal life.

The other options do not align with the historical context of canopic jars. The Four Seasons pertain to climate and agriculture; the Four Elements relate to classical philosophical ideas about the basic components of nature; and the Four Directions offer a geographical framework that does not connect directly to the preservation of the body or the afterlife beliefs central to ancient Egyptian culture.