Description:
Mummiform figure of bright cobalt blue faience, with shiny surface. Arms crossed, left over right. Black paint for eyes, brows, headband with open-looped knot and streamers, two hoes, text column on front and back (see Inscription field for details), and seed bag on back. Cross-hatched seed bag is trapezoidal and hangs diagonally from strap on left shoulder.
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+1910.8.1.A.K |
