Description:
Mummiform figure of pinkish beige terracotta with areas decorated in red-brown, black, and yellow slip. Drooping face, with features not shaped. Strongly protruding elbows, forming triangular upper torso. Narrow, shaft-like lower body. Red-brown slip for face, hoes, hands, and outline of text column below hands. Yellow slip for background of text column. Black slip for wig, eyes and partially legible text (see Inscription field for details). Tool marks along sides where excess clay was scraped away.
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.
2016
Tags:
ancient; archaeology; tombs; deaths; afterlife; religion; rituals; ceremonies; sculpture; agriculture Subjects:
Religion; Rites and ceremonies; Agriculture; archaeological objects; Civilization, Ancient; Death; Future life; Rituals; Sculpture; Tombs Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1910.9.7.A.K |
