Tag: shabti

Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date August 28, 2024

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Today 𓏇𓇋𓈖𓇳, we are going to combine two of my favorite things: ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 and hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This display combines two of my favorite things: Ushabtis and Hieroglyphs! This ushabti belonged to a woman named Isis and is on display at the MET.

This ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is made out of limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 and was made for a woman named Isis 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 who was ironically a singer for the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 !

This ushabti 𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 was made during the 18th Dynasty reign of Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖. The 18th Dynasty is almost the “golden age” of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 because they undergo much development during this time period. It’s very easy to date this ushabti because the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 was only worshipped during his reign! Also, the ushabti’s 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 hands are crossed in a mummiform way and holding tools – another 18th Dynasty clue!

Here’s the full inscription on the ushabti: 𓇓𓂝𓏏𓈖𓅮𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤

Let’s break down the inscription by each individual word:

𓇓𓂝𓏏 – Singer

𓈖 – of

𓅮 – (indicates past tense)

𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳 – Aten

𓊨𓏏𓆇𓁐 – Isis

𓐙𓏏𓂝𓊤 – True of Voice/justified

While limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 is not the most common material for ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 to be made out of, it’s not unheard of to have ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 like this during the 18th Dynasty period.

It always fascinates me that even though Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖 completely changed the whole ancient Egyptian religion during his reign, certain aspects of the original religion, such as ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾, remained.

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

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

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

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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.

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

Egyptian Artifacts

Ushabti of Akhenaten

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date March 7, 2024

This piece is listed as a “Funerary Figure” by the MET, but I think they mean to call it a ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾! This particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅜𓐍𓈖, and he had many ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 made in various styles from many different materials (you can see another ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 of his in the background of this photo). The ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to him are made in the typical Amarna-art style.

The only fully preserved Ushabti of Akhenaten on display at the MET.

While are over 200 𓏲𓏲 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that belonged to Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖, this red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 is the only known one that is complete! Red granite 𓅓𓌳𓏏𓎶 is a very durable rock 𓇋𓈖𓂋𓈙 because it is composed of over 60% quartz 𓏠𓈖𓏌𓈙, which is a very hard mineral 𓇋𓌻𓂋𓅱𓈙 so it makes sense that this particular ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 would be the one to remain complete!

It seems strange that Akhenaten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 would be buried with ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 because he completely changed the Egyptian religion from the traditional polytheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 to the monotheistic worship 𓇼𓄿𓀢 of the Aten 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳. This shows that while he did completely change Egypt’s 𓆎𓅓𓏏𓊖 religion, some aspects of the old religion, such as belief in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, did remain and persist throughout his rule 𓋾. Personally, I’m glad the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 were able to stick around because they’re my favorite!!

Most ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain standard inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 known as the “shabti spell” or “shabti text” from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead, which is the spell 𓎛𓂓𓏛 that allows the ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figure to perform work for the deceased in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Due to the change in religion, none of Akhenaten’s 𓇋𓏏𓈖𓇳𓅞𓐍𓈖 ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 contain the “Shabti Spell;” they only contain inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 of his name 𓂋𓈖 and titles.

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Tags akhenaten, amarna, artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti

Video

Ushabtis of Nauny – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date November 5, 2023

Watch the video about the Ushabtis of Nauny !

Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room! These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖.

The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦.

Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the video 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box!

Normally a person was buried with 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year, however, there were also overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 who would make sure the “regular ushabtis” (which are actually known as “worker ushabtis”) we’re doing their jobs!

You can also watch the video on TikTok!

@ancientegyptblog
Let’s look at some ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures! Gallery 126 at the MET has lot of ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 on display and I LOVE being in this room! These ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures and shabti boxes belong to a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 named Nauny, who lived during the 21st Dynasty reign of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Psusennes I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓌻𓅮𓇼𓈍𓈖𓊖. The ushabti figures 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 that Nauny was buried with are made of blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥 faience 𓋣𓈖𓏏𓏸𓏼 and have featured and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on them that are painted 𓏞𓏜 with black 𓆎𓅓 paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦. Nauny was buried with a total of 393 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures that were divided amongst seven 𓐀 shabti boxes. The shabti boxes are made of sycamore 𓈖𓉔𓏏𓆭 wood 𓆱𓏏𓏺 and painted 𓏞𓏜 with stucco. As demonstrated in the video 𓏏𓅱𓏏, the ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾𓏪 are stored in an upright position in the box! Normally a person was buried with 365 ushabti 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 figures – one for each day of the year, however, there were also overseer ushabtis 𓅱𓈙𓃀𓏏𓏭𓀾 who would make sure the “regular ushabtis” (which are actually known as “worker ushabtis”) we’re doing their jobs! Follow me to learn all about ancient Egypt, hieroglyphs, Egyptian mythology, art, culture and more! This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost. @ancientegyptblog #ancientEgypt #egyptology #ancientegyptblog #hieroglyphics #egitto #이집트 #egyptianhistory #anticoegitto #egyptologist #egyptianmythology #letsreadsomehieroglyphs #metropolitanmuseumofart #metmuseum #ushabti #shabti
♬ original sound – ancientegyptblog Nicole Lesar

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

Tags shabti, the met, ushabti, video

Video

Wax Ushabtis – Video

Post author By ancientegyptblog7
Post date June 10, 2023

Before ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 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!

These precursor-ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 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.

These particular wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures belonged to Queen Neferu, who lived during the 11th Dynasty (c. 2051–2030B.C.E) during the reign of Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪. Her tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 had many of these wax 𓏠𓈖𓎛𓏸𓏦 figures, however in general, not many similar ones have been found (in comparison to the amount of ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 that have been found).

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

Wax Ushabtis on display at the MET

This is my personal video and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.

Tags artifact, shabti, the met, ushabti, video

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