Tag: artifact

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 2)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 19, 2024
1 Comment on Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 2)

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This is my second post on Cleopatra’s Needle and here is a link to the first!

This obelisk 𓉶 was commissioned to be built by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign to highlight his military victories. On the obelisk 𓉶, not only can you see Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 throne name cartouche, but you can also see both the throne name and birth name of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Rameses II! Rameses II usurped this monument, as he did with the monuments of many past pharaohs! He not only put his cartouches, but at the top of the obelisk 𓉶 his Horus Name also appears in the serekh!

A closeup image of the hieroglyphs on Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The name 𓂋𓈖 Menkhepperra 𓇳𓏠𓆣 is Thutmosis III’s throne name and it appears multiple times on the obelisk. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Lasting is the Manifestation of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓏠 – Lasting

𓆣 – Manifestation

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Ramessu Mery Amun 𓁩𓁛𓈘𓄟𓋴𓇓” is Rameses II’s birth name. The name 𓂋𓈖 translates to “Ra has fashioned him, beloved of Amun,” but could also be translated as “Ra Bore Him, Beloved of Amun.”

𓁩 – Amun

𓁛 – Ra

𓈘 – Beloved

𓄟𓋴𓇓 – Bore Him/Fashioned Him/Born Of

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Usermaatre setep en Ra 𓇳𓄊𓁧𓇳𓍉𓈖” is Rameses II’s throne name and translates to “The Justice of Ra is powerful, Chosen of Ra.”

𓇳 – Ra

𓄊 – Powerful

𓁧 – Justice (Maat)

𓇳 – Ra

𓍉𓈖 – Chosen

Can you spot the three different cartouches in my picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏? I will probably be doing another post on the inscriptions and their meaning so look out for that post too!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, cleopatra's needle, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, rameses ii, thutmosis iii

Egyptian Artifacts

Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 1)

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date July 19, 2024
1 Comment on Cleopatra’s Needle (Part 1)

“Cleopatra’s Needle” aka the Obelisk 𓉶 in Central Park is one of the most beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 sights in Manhattan!

Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park

This obelisk 𓉶 (and another, which now resides in London) was not commissioned by Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇; in fact, it was commissioned by Thutmosis III 𓇳𓏠𓆣 during his 18th Dynasty reign. The obelisks 𓉶 stood at the city of Heliopolis at one of Thutmosis III’s 𓇳𓏠𓆣 temples. The obelisk 𓉶 is made out of “Aswan 𓋴𓃹𓈖𓏌𓏲𓊖 granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶” which was the third most used rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 by the ancient Egyptians!

Me with Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park

When the obelisks were discovered by the Romans, they were moved from Heliopolis to Alexandria and placed at a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 dedicated to Julius Caesar. The temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐 was commissioned by Cleopatra VII 𓈎𓃭𓇋𓍯𓊪𓄿𓂧𓂋𓏏𓄿𓆇, which is probably why the obelisks have the nickname “Cleopatra’s Needle.”

A closeup of me and Cleopatra’s Needle in Central Park!

The two obelisks were given by the Egyptian government as gifts; one is in London, and one is in Central Park in NYC! The obelisk is super close to the MET, so it’s great to go and see before or after your museum trip!

William the Hippo with the obelisk!

I’m going to do another post about the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on the obelisk 𓉶, so here is the link to that post!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, cleopatra's needle, rameses ii, thutmosis iii, william the hippo

Egyptian Artifacts

Statues of Imhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 30, 2024

When it comes to ancient Egypt 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖, I’m obsessed with a couple of different things in particular: Hatshepsut 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓎹𓏏𓄂𓏏𓀼𓏪, Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, Anubis 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓅱𓃣, and Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪! I love going to see the statues of Imhotep at the museum and my Nonno always made it into a game – #IFoundImhotep

Me (and William) with the Statues of Imhotep on display at the MET

Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was a real man that lived during Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 third dynasty (around 2700 B.C.E.) during the reign 𓋾𓈎𓏏 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦𓂋. While Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 is best known for being the architect of Djoser’s Step Pyramid (and Egypt’s first ever pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴), he was also a high priest 𓊹𓍛 of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! After his death, Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 became one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified.

The Statues of Imhotep showing the quartzite one on the left and the bronze one on the right. The middle statue is a seated scribe and is not Imhotep.

There is not much that is known about Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 as a person while he was alive; most of what we know about Imhotep was written at the earliest 1,200 years after his death! Referred to as “Sebayt 𓋴𓃀𓇼𓄿𓇌𓏏𓏛” in Middle Egyptian, these “instructions” or “teachings” refer to Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 as a great physician and a writer! One text from the 20th Dynasty called “Eulogy of Dead Writers” even states “Is there another like Imhotep?”

The bronze Imhotep statue. Most statues of Imhotep look like this one!

Most statues of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 are made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 (like you can see on the right side of this display) and are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, because that was when Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 was widely worshipped.

The quartzite statue of Imhotep. It is not common to see Imhotep in stone, so this piece is a treat to see on display at the MET.

The statue of Imhotep 𓇍𓅓𓊵𓏏𓊪 on the left is so interesting because it is not made of bronze 𓈔𓏤𓈒𓏦 – it is made of the metamorphic rock quartzite!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, ifoundimhotep, imhotep, the met

Egyptian Artifacts Reading Hieroglyphs

Mummy of Ukhotep

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 30, 2024

This is the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 and mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 of a man named Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪. Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 lived during the 12th dynasty (Middle Kingdom) and he was the chief treasurer 𓋨𓅱, which is why he probably received such gorgeous 𓄤 funerary equipment 𓈎𓂋𓋴𓏏𓏏𓊭.

The Mummy of Ukhotep on display at the MET

Ukhotep 𓋂𓊵𓏏𓊪 had a wooden coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 inscribed with parts of the Coffin Texts, which were spells 𓎛𓂓𓏛𓏦 that the deceased needed in order to gain magical powers in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. This coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 and mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is very typical of the Middle Kingdom burials (not just because of the styles/materials used for both the coffin and mask) but because the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 was placed on his side inside of the wooden coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱, which allowed him to see out of the coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 through the eyes on the side! My Nonno always told me about this fact when I was little, and I was always fascinated by this funerary practice!

The Mummy of Ukhotep with hieroglyphs on his coffin! Learn how to read the hieroglyphs below!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here is the inscription: 𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙𓁹𓊨𓎟𓈖𓅘𓎛𓎛𓇳 𓏅𓈖𓏏𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖𓉻𓎟𓆄𓏏

Here is a breakdown of the inscription:

𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 – An Offering the King Gives

𓁹𓊨 – Osiris (his name is missing the determinative this time – usually it’s written as 𓁹𓊨𓀭)

𓎟 – Lord

𓈖𓅘𓎛𓎛𓇳 – Eternity

𓏅 – Foremost

𓈖𓏏 – of

𓍋𓃀𓈋𓊖 – Abydos

𓊹𓀭 – God

𓉻 – Great

𓎟 -Lord

𓆄𓏏 – Maat

Fun Fact: “𓈖𓏏” is also another way to spell the name of the goddess Neith but it can also mean “of” and a bunch of other filler-type words!

The variant of “eternity 𓈖𓅘𓎛𓎛𓇳” used in this inscription is very Middle Kingdom too – I rarely see this one used ever!! Usually the typical “𓎛𓇳𓎛” is used!

The Mummy of Ukhotep with some of his other funerary equipment including his canopic jar case (near the head of the mummy)

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, the met

Ushabti Friends

Ushabtis of Seti I – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 28, 2024

As part of my “Ushabti Friends” series, I am teaching you how to look at the different characteristics of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to show how unique and wonderful these pieces are! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at the ushabtis of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠!

Pharaoh Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 had an estimated 1000+ ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪, however, only about 700 remain! Most of Seti I’s 𓇳𓁦𓏠 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and when Giovanni Belzoni discovered Seti I’s tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in the Valley of the Kings in 1917, he used a lot of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 as torches (this fact still haunts me – it was also one of my Nonno’s favorite stories to tell). Anytime Seti I came up in conversation my Nonno would say “can you believe some idiots used his ushabtis as torches??!!”

Besides the tragic wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis, Seti I 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 had many faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪. His faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are such a beautiful 𓄤 blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 color and are inscribed with the Shabti Spell in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪.

Some of the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 as well, however, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 are better preserved on some pieces better than others because wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 will naturally deteriorate over time due to the nature of the organic materials.

So how can we tell these are ushabtis of Seti I from the 19th Dynasty?

The ushabtis were found in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings
The ushabtis are inscribed with his throne name (𓇳𓁦𓏠) and birth name (𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖).
The ushabtis have characteristics of the 19th dynasty such as the faience ushabtis which are holding a hoe in each hand 𓌸 (typical of 18th-25th dynasties)

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, louvre, seti i, shabti, the met, ushabti

Ushabti Friends

Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 21, 2024

As part of my “Ushabti Friends” series, I am teaching you how to look at the different characteristics of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and how those characteristics can help you to narrow down the age/time period that the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is from! Today we are going to look at Royal 18th Dynasty Ushabtis!

All of the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 we are going to look at today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 are royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that all belonged to pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 from the 18th Dynasty! The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because these little guys undergo much development during this time period and have so many different characteristics!

The wooden ushabti of Amenhotep III

The wooden ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amenhotep III 𓇳𓁧𓎠 is very interesting because it has a very distinct characteristic of 18th Dynasty ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that is not just one found on royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!

A closeup of the wooden ushabti of Amenhotep III to highlight where a hoe or other tools would have been placed in his hands!

There is a space in the hands where tools would have been inserted – such as a hoe 𓌸. Tools that were attached separately were only found in the 18th Dynasty!

The Shabti Spell on the ushabti of Amenhotep III

The “Shabti Spell” is also on the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Limestone ushabti of Amenhotep II

The rock based ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of Amenhotep II 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪 and Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 are all seen holding Ankh symbols in their hands which are crossed over their chest in a mummiform fashion.

Ushabti of Akhenaten holding Ankhs in each hand

I have only seen royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 with Ankhs 𓋹! I find this to be commentary on the religion because a deceased pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 would not have to be doing work anyway – he probably was buried with ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 just in case! This is probably why some of the royal ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 have Ankhs 𓋹 and not tools!

Ushabti of Akhenaten holding Ankhs in each hand

These ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 also have false beards and are wearing some type of royal crown to distinguish that they are pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦!

Ushabti of Akhenaten wearing a royal crown and false beard

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags akhenaten, amenhotep ii, amenhotep iii, artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti, ushabti friends

Reading Hieroglyphs Ushabti Friends

Ushabti of Nebhor – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 21, 2024

Let me introduce you to another one of my Ushabti Friends – the Ushabti of Nebhor 𓎟𓅄!

The Ushabti of Nebhor

This is one of my absolute favorite ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures at the MET just because he is so adorable! This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is dated to the 21st-22nd dynasties and is made out of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and has features and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on it that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.

We can tell the age of this ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 just by looking at it! Let’s go through the process of narrowing down the age:

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is holding a hoe 𓌸 in each hand, which is characteristic of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that were made from the 18th Dynasty to the 25th Dynasty!
This little guy is also holding a bag on his back (I don’t have a picture of that I’m sorry), which narrows down the age from the 19th-23rd Dynasties!
This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is also wearing a headband, which is usually only found on ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that were made from the 21st-22nd Dynasties, which is the defining characteristic and allows us to really narrow down the age!

Since I can’t help myself, Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊩𓁹 – The Osiris

𓎟𓅄 – Nebhor

𓐙𓊤 – True of Voice

“The Osiris 𓊩𓁹” part of the inscription means that Nebhor 𓎟𓅄, through the process of mummification 𓋴𓂧𓐍𓅱𓐎, becomes 𓆣 like the god 𓊹 Osiris 𓊩𓁹 who is the main god 𓊹 of the dead. This means that Nebhor 𓎟𓅄 will live on in the Duat 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 (afterlife) just like Osiris 𓊩𓁹 has!

“True of Voice 𓐙𓊤” means that Nebhor 𓎟𓅄 has lived a just and true life! This phrase appears quite often amongst funerary objects!

The Ushabti of Nebhor on display at the MET

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, hieroglyph lessons, hieroglyphs, shabti, the met, ushabti, ushabti friends

Ushabti Friends

18th Dynasty Ushabtis – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 21, 2024

18th Dynasty Ushabtis at the Brooklyn Museum

Both of these ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that we are going to look at today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 are from the Brooklyn Museum! Both of these ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are beautiful 𓄤𓆑𓂋 and unique and are dated to the same time period even though they look different and are made of different materials! In the first image, the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on the left is made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, while the painted ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on the right is made of faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼.

Both of these ushabtis are dated to the 18th Dynasty, but how do we know? Let’s go through the process of narrowing down the age:

In each hand, both of the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are holding a hoe 𓌸 which is characteristic of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that were made from the 18th Dynasty to the 25th Dynasty!
The real defining characteristic are the baskets that the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are holding in each hand – this is only found on ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 dated to the 18th Dynasty!

The Ushabti of Sati at the Brooklyn Museum (18th Dynasty Ushabtis)

A closeup of the Ushabti of Sati holding a basket!

If you see a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and it’s holding a basket or a pot in each hand, it is an 18th Dynasty ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾!

Limestone ushabti at the Brooklyn Museum

A closeup of the limestone ushabti at the Brooklyn Museum which highlights the baskets that it is holding!

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, brooklyn museum, shabti, ushabti, ushabti friends

Ushabti Friends

Ushabti on a Bier – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 6, 2024

Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳 we are going to look at a very peculiar type of Ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure that does not appear much! I’ve been wanting to write about this piece for so long so this series is the perfect opportunity!

A “Ushabti on a Bier”

These type of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 are referred to as “Ushabti on a Bier” because they appear lying flat on a table like a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾. While there are not many of this type of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, there are similar (yet more elaborate) ones at the Museo Egizio in Torino, the Louvre in Paris and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden.

There is actually no information about this piece on the MET website, but based on the piece and what I know about ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, I am going to make some inferences here!

I am going to infer that this piece is dated to the 18th Dynasty for two reasons: the first is that the similar ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 located in other museums are all dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) and the second is that this piece is in a gallery at the MET that contains New Kingdom era pieces!

The “Ushabti on a Bier” on display at the MET. This piece is shown amongst other artifacts dated to the 18th Dynasty!

This piece also seems to be made of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉, and was part of a non-royal but still wealthy person’s burial.

This “Ushabti on a Bier” that is pictured plus the ones in other museums don’t contain any hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 on them which is interesting because many ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 do contain hieroglyphic inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥.

To me, the “Ushabti on a Bier” figures look like the wooden mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 figures that would be placed on the wooden 𓆱𓏏𓏺 model boats 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞𓏥 that went in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 during the Middle Kingdom.

These types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures leave me with more questions than answers which to me is both fascinating and frustrating!

What was the purpose of these unique type of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures?
Why do all instances of these ushabtis not contain any hieroglyphs?
Were these ushabtis inspired by the wooden model boats of the Middle Kingdom?
Why are all examples of these only dated to the 18th Dynasty, and why did they stop being made?

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

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Tags artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti, ushabti friends

Ushabti Friends

Wax Ushabtis – Ushabti Friends

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date May 4, 2024

This is the first post in a new series I am doing called “Ushabti Friends,” which aims to educate on the fascinating funerary objects called Ushabtis!

There are so many different types of ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Today, we are going to start off with the first known ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure which is called a “wax ushabti”

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 we know and love evolved in the 12th Dynasty, wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figurines that looked like humans (and had their own mini coffins 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱𓏦) were placed in tombs 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐𓏪 with the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱! They are known to Egyptologists as “wax ushabtis.”

These precursor-ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were made of beeswax and beeswax was said to have magical 𓎛𓂓𓄿𓏜 powers of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜, resurrection, and regeneration.

The figures are somewhat detailed and were wrapped in a linen cloth 𓍱 and placed in the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱. The coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 did not identify any role or jobs that the figure had (like the text on a ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 could identify what it’s job was), but it did identify the name 𓂋𓈖 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱. Sometimes even the standard Offering Formula (𓇓𓏏𓊵𓏙 an offering the king gives) appeared on the mini-coffin 𓋴𓅱𓎛𓏏𓆱 as if it were a real one!

If these figures weren’t workers, then what was their purpose? It is thought that this figure would take the place of the body should the body of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 be destroyed.

Not many of these “wax ushabtis” have been found, especially in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found!

Ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 evolved into the little worker figures we know today during the 12th Dynasty, but became very popular during the New Kingdom.

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.

Follow me @ancientegyptblog on Instagram and TikTok to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, mythology, culture and more!

Tags artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti, ushabti friends

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