The Ushabti, the one who answers, was a funerary figurine, a mummy-shaped statue, used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices and buried with the deceased.
Ushabtis were placed in tombs among the grave goods and were intended to replace the dead in the afterlife when they were called upon to work. 365 Ushabtis (one for every day of the year) were placed in tombs, and overseers were added to the set to monitor and control their performance.
The oldest known examples of Ushabtis, dating back to the 2nd millennium (2033-1710 BC), are simple mud or wax “mummified" naked statues placed in small coffins. Later examples were made of stone, wood or alabaster and gold plated. By the end of the 1st millennium, Ushabtis (mainly from faience) were mass-produced and were placed together in shrine-shaped boxes.
The Egyptian Funerary ritual showcase, at the AUB Museum, displays four Ushabtis with arms folded on chest and holding scepters in hands.
Stay tuned to discover more artifacts from the AUB Museum!
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1. Ushabti figurine (Inv.# 35.x.29)
Terra cotta, glazed
18th-19th Dynasty, Late Bronze Age, ca. 1550-1186 B.C
(Ht.: 9.2 cm, W.: 2.7 cm, Thickness: 2 cm)
2. Ushabti figurine (Inv.# 2508)
Terra cotta, glazed
18th-19th Dynasty, Late Bronze Age, ca. 1550-1186 B.C
(Ht.: 6.8 cm, W.: 2.8 cm, Thickness: 1.5 cm)
3. Ushabti figurine (Inv.# 2506)
Terra cotta, glazed
18th-19th Dynasty, Late Bronze Age, ca. 1550-1186 B.C
(Ht.: 13 cm, W.: 3.5 cm, Thickness: 2.5 cm)
4. Ushabti figurine (Inv.# 85.103)
Faience, green glaze
(Ht.: 7.2 cm, W.: 1.9 cm, Thickness: 1.2 cm)