Photo © David A. Loggie, N.Y. |
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Elaborate Shabti of the “Lady of the House …,” a title commonly used for married women
Egypt 13th century BCE Painted limestone H: 24.7; W: 9 cm Gift of Abraham Guterman, New York, to American Friends of the Israel Museum Accession number: 97.63.165 |
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Perceiving the realm of the dead primarily as a continuation of earthly existence, the ancient Egyptians described the afterlife in terms of their agricultural society. This is reflected in the shabti-a funerary statuette made to serve as a substitute for its owner in performing menial corvee labor in the afterlife. Such labor, consisting mainly of seasonal agricultural work for the king, was imposed on the majority of the population, and only a privileged few were exempt.
The fear of being summoned for corvee work in the afterlife was shared by all Egyptians; shabti statuettes were placed in tombs of all members of the elite, men as well as women, including the king. Usually represented mummiform with agricultural tools in their hands and baskets hanging from their back, shabtis were made of various materials, such as wood, glazed composition, stone, bronze, and glass. Most are inscribed with the name and title of their owner and a customary spell reading: "O, this shabti, if one summons for all the works Publications: The Israel Museum, Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2005 Exhibition: The Immortals of Ancient Egypt: From the Abraham Guterman Collection of Ancient Egyptian Art, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 01/06/1997 - 01/12/1997 Digital presentation of this object was made possible by: The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir |
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