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 example of hard faience, decayed to a white colour, dates from the Late Period (between 664 and 337 BC).

The shabti is in the form of a mummy, wearing a lappet wig and a long beard. He carries a pick and hoe and has a basket over the left shoulder. The hieroglyphic inscription has Chapter VI of the Book of the Dead and records the name of Horiritao.

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:	000-100-104-561-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland A.1965.46
Date:	Late Period Late Period (between 664 and 337 BC)
Material:
Dimensions:	7.00" H
What:	Shabti
Subject:	Shabtis
Who:	Hor-irit-ao
Where:	Ancient Egypt
Event:
Description:	Mummiform shabti in hard faience decayed to white, of Hor-irit-ao standing on a plinth with a back-pillar: Ancient Egyptian, Late Period
References:
Translations:
Related Records:

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