Shabti (front)

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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 example of faience dates from the New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty (around 1295 to 1186 BC). This picture shows the front.

The shabti is carved wearing a costume used in daily life - a sleeved gown with pleated apron which reveals her feet - and a fringed lappet wig. Her hands are placed in front on her thighs. An inscription in hieroglyphs running in a column in the front names Sura.

Egyptian hieroglyphs were pictures representing objects or sounds. They were sacred symbols, and closely linked to religion. Complicated and difficult to write, different scripts were developed over time for legal and administrative writing and for daily use.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-522-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1950.146
• Date: 19th Dynasty
  New Kingdom: 19th Dynasty (around 1295 to 1186 BC)
  
• Material: Inscription: The Captain of Bowmen, Sura (Sel)
  Shabti
  
• Dimensions: 6.25" H
  
• What: Shabti
  
• Subject: Shabtis
  
• Who: Sura, Captain of Bowmen
  
• Where: Ancient Egypt
  
• Event:
• Description: Shabti in green glazed faience shown in the costume of the living, with a column of inscription naming Sura: Ancient Egyptian, 19th Dynasty
  
• References:
• Translations:
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