Shabti (front)

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 shabti carved in limestone with traces of red and black pigment dates from the New Kingdom, late 18th Dynasty (around 1539 to 1295 BC).

The shabti is in the form of a mummy, showing the owner wearing a long plaited wig with a fillet of lotus flowers. She holds two baskets, a pick and a hoe. The hieroglyphic inscription has Chapter VI of the Book of the Dead, and records the owner's name as Tanefret.

The Book of the Dead is a collection of texts containing magic formulas and instructions. First compiled and edited in the 16th century BC, other texts were added over the years. They were written on papyrus or other materials, and buried with the deceased to help in the Afterlife.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-104-556-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1965.26
Date:	18th Dynasty New Kingdom: late 18th Dynasty (around 1539 to 1295 BC)
Material:
Dimensions:	8.75" H
What:	Shabti
Subject:	Shabtis
Who:	Amherst Collection Ta-nefret (Owner)
Where:	Ancient Egypt
Event:
Description:	Mummiform shabti in limestone showing the owner wearing a long plaited wig and fillet of lotus flowers, and inscribed with her name, Ta-nefret: Ancient Egyptian, Late 18th Dynasty
References:
Translations:
Related Records:

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