Description:
Mummiform figure of bright turquoise faience. Arms crossed, right over left. Slight protrusions for hands. Molded uraeus on brow. Rounded back. Black paint for eyes, brows, two hoes, text column below hands (see Inscription field for details), headband with streamers, and cross-hached rectangular seed bag suspended on long straps form shoulders on back. All painted details are badly worn. The badly damaged text includes a cartouche. Object comes from same mold as MH 1910.9.1-3.A.K and MH 1910.9.5.A.K.
Label Text:
Ancient Egyptians were obliged to perform certain tasks for the state, including agricultural labor. Small mummy-shaped figurines called “shabtis” were introduced to perform this work in the afterlife and often carried hoes or seed-baskets. Initially, the deceased was given only one shabti, but the number increased dramatically over time. From the 18th Dynasty on, shabtis sometimes appeared dressed as living people rather than as mummies. These statuettes could be made of earthenware, Egyptian faience, stone, or other materials. Egyptian faience, a ceramic substance composed of quartz granules fused with alkali, frequently appears in bright colors that imitate lapis lazuli or turquoise.
2016
Tags:
ancient; archaeology; tombs; deaths; afterlife; religion; rituals; ceremonies; sculpture; agriculture Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1910.9.4.A.K |
