Shabtis, or ushebtis from the Third Intermediate Period, are small figurines buried with the deceased, intended to carry out menial labour on their owner’s behalf in the afterlife. To reflect this function, they are usually depicted in the form of a mummy holding tools in their hands – baskets, mattocks and hoes. Shabtis are among the most numerous of Egyptian antiquities, as they played a major role in funeral rites. Many shabtis are inscribed with the title and name of the owner. Some were even inscribed with a spell in which the deceased summons the shabtis to work. The “Shabti spell” is taken from chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead and is also attested in the coffin text spell 472. From the Third Intermediate Period, overseer shabtis were created to govern a group of worker shabtis. Based on the Egyptian 10-day week, there would be 36 overseers, governing a total of 365 workers. They can be identified by the flaring skirt overhanging and the whip in their hand.
This particular ushebti bears the name of its owner, Her-Webkhet and was found at the Bab el-Gasus priestly cache II, discovered in 1891. The cache contained a vast array of burials and associated items, with 254 coffins discovered and 110 shabti boxes. A significant number of these sarcophagi were gifted to other countries, to celebrate the ascension of the Khedive Abbas II of Egypt. Within the archaeological literature Her-Webkhet is known by a number of other names, including: Heroubekht, Herouben, Harweben, Herytuben, Heroub, Herubechet and Heruben. Amongst her epithets she was known as ‘Mistress of the house’, ‘Chantress of Amun-Re’ and ‘Prophetess of Mut’. Her-Webkhet had royal connections. Her mother is named as Isetemkheb D, who was the daughter of the High Priest of Amun, Menkheperre. Menkheperre ruled within the Third Intermediate Period from 1045 – 992 BC and was the de facto ruler of the south of the country.
To discover more about these fascinating objects, please visit our relevant post: Egyptian Shabti: Companions in the Afterlife.