Ushabti

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with shabti. (Discuss)

Egyptian Ushabti

An ushabti (also called shabti or shawabti, with a number of variant spellings) is a small figurine of ancient Egypt included in the grave goods of the dead. The figurine was believed to magically animate after the dead had been judged, then work for the dead person as a servant or substitute labourer in the fields of Osiris. The ushabti is also named the "follower" or "answerer", because it "answered" for the deceased person and performed all the routine chores of daily life for its master. Some tombs had the floor covered with a great many ushabti figurines, produced in quantity for the journey of the deceased. Many Egyptians were buried with 365 ushabti statues, one to work in place of the deceased for each day of the year. Some Egyptians had overseer ushabti that were responsible for groups of ten ushabti.

The ushabtis were used from the 11th Dynasty but became common and numerous in graves from the 21st Dynasty. They symbolically replaced genuine sacrificial burials. Early ushabti figurines were made from wax and clay; later figurines were of stone, terracotta, metal, glass and, most often, glazed earthenware. With increasing demand, the ushabti became standardised—made from single molds with little detail.

One of the more common examples pictured of an ushabti is one of faience glass glaze, because an Egyptian hieroglyphic statement, or story, is presented about the deceased individual. It is a statement either of the deceased's life or journey.