Shabti

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A shabti is a model of a servant, buried with an ancient Egyptian in order to perform menial tasks in the Afterlife on behalf of the deceased. This wooden shabti dates from the New Kingdom, late 18th Dynasty (around 1539 to 1295 BC).

The shabti is in the form of a mummy, and probably holds implements and bags on the left shoulder and perhaps water pots on the right. It has traces of gesso and pigment. The fragmentary inscription is indecipherable.

Wealthy people in ancient Egypt were buried with a range of objects to help them in the Afterlife. These included religious amulets, food and drink, furniture, games, clothes, jewels, and servants to do the work.

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-548-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1958.294
• Date: 18th Dynasty
  New Kingdom: late 18th Dynasty (around 1539-1295 BC)
  
• Material:
• Dimensions: 9.63" H
  
• What:
• Subject: Shabtis
  
• Who:
• Where: Ancient Egypt
  
• Event:
• Description: Mummiform shabti made of wood with traces of gesso and pigment: Ancient Egyptian, Late 18th Dynasty
  
• References:
• Translations:
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