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Artist/Maker
Unknown artist
Datec. 1070-656 B.C.E.
MediumRed clay with blue wash and black pigment
DimensionsOverall: 4 × 1 1/2 in. (10.2 × 3.8 cm)
Credit LineGift of William C. Winslow, Class of 1862
Object number1943.77
Not on view
DescriptionIn the Egyptian afterlife, everyone was expected to work in the Field of Reeds (or A’aru) for Osiris, the god of death. Shabtis first began appearing in tombs of the Middle Kingdom (ca. 2040 – 1782 B.C.E.), likely evolving from the wooden models of servants and workers that were included in Old and Middle Kingdom burials. At first, they were only mummiform and most were placed in their own coffins. Most remained uninscribed, but some included the name of their owners or fractions of the shabti spell from Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. By the New Kingdom, shabtis had come to personify the deceased and perform labor on their behalf in the A’aru. They were made of predominantly clay and faience, and painted with agricultural implements such as sickles, hoes, baskets, and brick molds for working in the A’aru.
Most tombs contain at least a few shabtis. Over time, it became more common to include 365 worker shabtis (one for each day of the year) and 36 overseers (one for every 10 worker shabtis) in wealthier tombs, totaling 401.
This shabti was excavated from Abydos sometime between 1899 – 1902, and donated to the College by William C. Winslow in 1902.
Catalogue card from 1960s: "Faience ushabti. Egyptian, XIX-XXIst Dyns. Gift of: W. C. Winslow '62. Broken; foot smashed. Granular pink core with white at edge; blue glaze; purplish paint. Front moulded only. Modelled crossed arms holding moulded hoe and mattock. Paint on eyes, fillet, mattock, columnar inscription, satchel."
Additional Details
Provenance
March 1902: Hamilton College, by gift of William C. Winslow, on behalf of the Egypt Exploration Fund;
1899 - 1901: excavated from Abydos for the Egypt Exploration Fund.
1899 - 1901: excavated from Abydos for the Egypt Exploration Fund.
Markings
None noted.
Signature
None noted.
Inscribed
Columnar inscription on front.
Unknown artist
Date: c. 1186-1070 B.C.E.
Medium: Stone with wash
Object number: 1943.59
Unknown artist
Date: c. 945-715 B.C.E.
Medium: Faience with pigment
Object number: 1943.37
Unknown artist
Date: c. 1070-656 B.C.E.
Medium: Clay with pigment
Object number: 1943.49
Unknown artist
Date: c. 1070-945 BCE
Medium: Faience
Object number: INV.699