What is a shabti?
What is a shabti? A shabti (also known as shawabti or ushabti) is a generally mummiform figurine of about 5 - 30 centimetres found in many ancient Egyptian tombs. They are commonly made of blue or green glazed Egyptian faience, but can also consist of stone, wood, clay, metal, and glass.
What is the function of a shabti doll?
The function of the shabti dolls was made clear in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, and there is a spell, specifically for the shabti dolls which is known as the “Spell for causing a shabti to do work for a man in the realm of the dead.”
What are shabtis figurines used for?
These figurines were placed in tombs as grave goods, and were believed to function as servants for the deceased in the afterlife. Shabtis are human / mummy in form, and may be made using a variety of materials, including faience, clay, as well as wax.
What is a ushabti figure called?
Alternative Titles: shabti figure, shawabty figure. Ushabti figure, also spelled shabti or shawabty, any of the small statuettes made of wood, stone, or faience that are often found in large numbers in ancient Egyptian tombs. The figures range in height from approximately 4 to 20 inches (10 to 50 cm) and often hold hoes in their arms.
Where is Shabti found?
(opens in a new window) A shabti (also known as shawabti or ushabti) is a generally mummiform figurine of about 5 - 30 centimetres found in many ancient Egyptian tombs.
What did the Shabti do in the New Kingdom?
During the New Kingdom (1550–1069 BC), the role of the shabti changed. The figurine became a mere servant who fulfilled different tasks that would otherwise be imposed on the deceased in the afterlife, such as fieldwork. For this reason, the shabtis are equipped with tools like hoes and seed bags.
Why was the Shabti a surrogate?
The shabti therefore acted as a surrogate in case their master’s mummy was damaged, guaranteeing his or her eternal life. Because of this intimate relationship, the deceased was only buried with one or two of these figurines.
How many Shabtis did the deceased have?
The number of servant figurines deposited in tombs increased dramatically at this time. Now the deceased would ideally own 401 shabtis, consisting of 365 worker-shabtis (one per day of the year) and 36 overseer-shabtis (one per Egyptian 10-day week). After the Ptolemaic Period (332–30 BC), the shabti was no longer produced.
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Illustration
Shabti dolls from ancient Egypt. Shabti dolls were the surrogate workers for the deceased in the afterlife.
License
This image was first published on Flickr . Original image by koopmanrob. Uploaded by Joshua J. Mark, published on 26 April 2012 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike.
Cite This Work
koopmanrob, . (2012, April 26). Shabti Dolls . World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/176/shabti-dolls/
Video
Shabti dolls from Ancient Egypt were funerary figures that accompanied the deceased into the afterlife and were basically your personal helper in the afterlife. A shabti formula (which was a spell) was inscribed on each shabti doll, which specified the function of the doll in the afterlife.
About the Author
Kelly is a graduate from Monash University who has recently completed her BA (Honours) in Ancient History and Archaeology, focussing on iconography and status in Pylos burials. She has a passion for mythology and the Aegean Bronze Age.
License
Original video by Kelly Macquire. Embedded by Kelly Macquire, published on 12 December 2021. Please check the original source (s) for copyright information. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
Cite This Work
Macquire, K. (2021, December 12). Shabti Dolls of Ancient Egypt - Helpers in the Afterlife . World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2691/shabti-dolls-of-ancient-egypt---helpers-in-the-aft/
