Summary of This Activity       Back in Time Shawabtis: Don’t go to the afterlife without one. Big Picture Behind the Scenes                 Shawabti of Lady Sati Faience New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amunhotep III (circa 1390–1352 B.C.) Reportedly from Saqqara 9 13/16 in. (25 cm) 37.124E, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund           What is a shawabti? Small funerary statuettes called shawabtis (in some periods called shabtis or ushabtis) were introduced in the Middle Kingdom. These mummiform (shrouded), cross-armed figures represent deceased persons and were intended to do agricultural work in place of those persons in the afterlife—like little clones. Because of this function, shawabtis were placed in tombs, usually as close as possible to the coffin. What is the shawabti spell? The ancient Egyptian word shawabti is sometimes translated as “answerer.” When the deceased was assigned to do work in the afterlife, the shawabti was believed to answer for him or her (“Here I am!”). Shawabtis were guaranteed to do work for the deceased through a “shawabti spell” that was often inscribed on the figures. This formula was thought to bring the shawabtis magically to life and to ensure their cooperation:           O shawabti, allotted to me, if I am summoned or if I am ordered to do any work that has to be done in the realm of the dead; or if any unpleasant tasks are imposed for me there as a duty, you shall present yourself for me on every occasion, to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the riverbanks, to ferry sand from the east to the west. “Here I am,” you shall say.                 How did shawabtis change over time?           Middle Kingdom When shawabtis first appeared in the Middle Kingdom, most were made of stone such as alabaster. Artists later used other materials as well, like wood, faience, and pottery. At first, most elite Egyptians only had a few shawabtis in their tombs.           Shawabti of Heqaib Egyptian alabaster Middle Kingdom–Second Intermediate Period, Dynasty 12–Dynasty 13, circa 1979–1627/06 B.C. Provenance not known 6 1/2 x 1 7/8 x 1 9/16 in. (16.5 x 4.8 x 4 cm) 86.226.34, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.                 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom) During the 18th Dynasty in the New Kingdom, artists created larger and more elaborate shawabtis. They depicted many holding agricultural tools such as hand hoes and baskets for seeds. Also at this time, the numbers of shawabtis per tomb started to increase.           Shawabti of Lady Sati Faience New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amunhotep III (circa 1390–1352 B.C.) Reportedly from Saqqara 9 13/16 in. (25 cm) 37.124E, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund                 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom) By the 19th Dynasty, the numbers of shawabtis in tombs increased dramatically. Some kings were buried with hundreds of the figurines. Kings like Tutankhamun (who had over 400) and Ramesses II favored elaborate wooden shawabtis, often gilded. Royal shawabtis like this one of Ramesses were decorated with recognizable royal regalia, like the nemes-headdress.           Shawabti of Ramesses II Wood New Kingdom, circa 1213 B.C. From Thebes 12 1/2 x 3 7/16 in. (31.8 x 8.7 cm) 08.480.5, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund                 Third Intermediate Period Third Intermediate Period Egyptians often placed large numbers of shawabtis in their tombs. These “workers” were sometimes divided into crews of ten (one for each day of the Egyptian week). Each crew had a supervisor shawabti that was dressed like a living person (not mummiform). The finest shawabtis from this period are made of bright blue faience.           Shawabti of King Pinudjem I Faience Third Intermediate Period, circa 1025–1007 B.C. From Thebes 4 1/4 x 1 5/16 in. (10.8 x 3.4 cm) 16.189, Gift of the Estate of Charles Edwin Wilbour                 Late Period In the Late Period, the number of shawabtis per tomb began to decrease. Some of the decorative elements introduced in the New Kingdom began to reappear and so did the shawabti spell. Thus both in number and in style shawabtis became more traditional—going back to the New Kingdom for inspiration.           Shawabti of Meshentayet Faience Late Period, Dynasties 26–31, 664–332 B.C. Provenance not known 7 13/16 x 2 in. (19.8 x 5.1 cm) 05.401, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund                 Why do shawabtis look like mummy cases?           Shawabtis resemble human-shaped mummy cases because both have a close connection with the deceased. Although shawabtis and mummy cases look similar, they were very different sizes. The cases had to be big enough to contain a deceased person’s mummy; most shawabtis were less than 12 inches tall and were placed in or near their owners’ coffins.           Shawabti of Lady Sati Faience New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amunhotep III (circa 1390–1352 B.C.) Reportedly from Saqqara 9 13/16 in. (25 cm) 37.124E, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund Cartonnage Mummy Case of Nespanetjerenpere Cartonnage (linen or papyrus mixed with plaster), painted, with eyes and eyebrows inlaid with glass and lapis lazuli Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 22–early Dynasty 25, circa 945–712 B.C. Provenance not known; most probably from Thebes 69 3/4 in. (177 cm) 35.1265, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund                 Wigs and Broad Necklaces Both shawabtis and mummy cases have wigs and broad necklaces to indicate their subjects’ high status in Egyptian society. The blue in the wigs symbolizes the semiprecious stone lapis lazuli, which the Egyptians believed to be the material of the gods’ hair.                     Shrouds and Crossed Arms The shrouds and crossed arms of these figures identify their owners with Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead. Osiris is usually depicted wrapped in mummy bandages with his arms crossed, symbols of his death and resurrection. Egyptians thus sought to achieve life after death like Osiris through the process of mummification.                     Meaningful Decorations Artists decorated mummy cases and the coffins in which they were placed with inscriptions and symbols to help the deceased in the afterlife. These decorations include images of funerary deities, protective symbols, and prayers for the deceased. Shawabtis bear the names and titles of their owners and, usually, the “shawabti spell” to ensure their performance of necessary labors in the afterlife.                     Feet Mummy cases and shawabtis have feet that allow them to stand upright like statues.

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