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Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabtis of the High Priests of Amun

This group of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸π“₯ glazed faience π“‹£π“ˆ–π“π“Έπ“Ό ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ (or shabti) figures belonged to different β€œHigh Priests of Amun π“ŠΉπ“›π“Œπ“ˆ–π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³β€ and their families. These ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ were found in the Royal Cache at Deir el-Bahri and are dated to the 21-22 Dynasties (1070-925 B.C.E.).

The β€œHigh Priest of Amun π“ŠΉπ“›π“Œπ“ˆ–π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³β€ was the top ranking priest π“ŠΉπ“› in the priesthood of the god π“ŠΉ Amun π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–. The High Priests of Amun π“ŠΉπ“›π“Œπ“ˆ–π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³ first appeared during the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom and gained a lot of power under Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ and Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣. The Theban high priest was usually appointed by the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻. However, their power was curtailed when Akhenaten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³π“…œπ“π“ˆ– came to the throne and changed the polytheistic Egyptian religion to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀒 of the Aten π“‡‹π“π“ˆ–π“‡³.

Though not officially pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 themselves, The High Priests of Amun π“ŠΉπ“›π“Œπ“ˆ–π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“‡³ during the 21st Dynasty were unofficial rulers of Upper Egypt 𓇓. Their names π“‚‹π“ˆ–π“¦ even appeared in cartouches and they were buried in royal tombs π“‡‹π“«π“Šƒπ“‰π“¦. This partially explains why these particular ushabti π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ figures have the craftsmanship that would usually be reserved for royalty.