WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
A Shabti is a small human figure representing a person who would perform a given task for the deceased in the afterlife
WHAT IS IT MADE OUT OF?
Shabti figures were made from various materials including; faience, wax, clay, wood, stone, terracotta and, occasionally, glass and bronze.
WHAT WAS IT USED FOR?
Shabti figures provided a workforce for use in the afterlife. Some burials contained several hundred figures, often equipped with tools for working the fields. Typically 'Overseer' shabtis were also included to keep the magical workforce in check.
Spell 6 of 'The Book Of The Dead' instructs the Shabti to..
O Shabti,If 'the deceased' be summoned
To do any work which has to be done in the realm if the dead
To make arable the fields,
to irrigate the land
or to convey sand from East to West;
"Here I Am", you shall say,"I Shall Do It".
The tomb of Tutankhamun contained dozens of Shabti figure, varying greatly is size and detail.
Many of the Tutankhamun's shabtis appear to have different facial features. Wooden models were also included to provide the deceased with provisions in the afterlife. These models typically included butchers, bakers, brewers, boats, livestock and concubines.
Spell 6 of 'The Book Of The Dead' instructs the Shabti to..
O Shabti,If 'the deceased' be summoned
To do any work which has to be done in the realm if the dead
To make arable the fields,
to irrigate the land
or to convey sand from East to West;
"Here I Am", you shall say,"I Shall Do It".
The tomb of Tutankhamun contained dozens of Shabti figure, varying greatly is size and detail.
Many of the Tutankhamun's shabtis appear to have different facial features. Wooden models were also included to provide the deceased with provisions in the afterlife. These models typically included butchers, bakers, brewers, boats, livestock and concubines.
WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?
In Tutankhamun's tomb, symbolic images of servants were painted inside to aid the deceased in the after world. This practice developed into the use of small statuettes known as Shabti.
]Wealthy nobles and royalty did not plan on doing any work themselves and so they would take their (symbolic) servants with them. Early versions of Shabtis were modeled to represent the task that they would perform and given tiny tools with which to complete their tasks. Later on Shabtis were inscribed with a magical formula which would activate them in the afterlife.
]Wealthy nobles and royalty did not plan on doing any work themselves and so they would take their (symbolic) servants with them. Early versions of Shabtis were modeled to represent the task that they would perform and given tiny tools with which to complete their tasks. Later on Shabtis were inscribed with a magical formula which would activate them in the afterlife.