April 26, 2024
Ancient Egyptian Faience Shabti / Ushabti Statue Figure - 664 BC
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An ancient Egyptian faience shabti, dating to Egypt's Late Period, approximately 664 - 323 B.C.The figure is shown wearing the tripartite wig, beard of Osiris and holding agricultural implements; the hoe and pick.The shabti (ancient Egyptian "shawabti"), was a funerary figure, placed in the tombs of wealthy individuals that, on account of its human appearance would fool the gods into thinking that the shabti was the deceased! This was important as all Ancient Egyptians might be required to perform menial manual labour in the afterlife, if summoned. So it became common practice among the highly religious and superstitious elite to place small figures (sometimes as many as 300) in their burial chambers, that could be substituted for themselves if need be. Thus manual work could be avoided, the shabtis "coming to life" if called and performing the work themselves.This belief may appear strange to our modern ideas of religion and the world but in Ancient Egypt art and religion were inextricably linked, to the extent that figures such as the present example could be imbued with life, given the right circumstances. The piece is made from Egyptian faience, which is a material somewhere between ceramic and glass, composed of crushed, fired quartz and prized in ancient times for its beautiful glaze.A fascinating piece of ancient Egyptian
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