Ushabti of Tutankhamun
This gilded ushabti is an image of the young king Tutankhamun wearing the Blue Khepresh Crown of ceremonies and processions and the uraeus. It is adorned with a broad collar cut in gold leaf and the two insignia of Osiris.
Ushabtis, also known as shabtis or shawabtis, are small figurines that were commonly found in ancient Egyptian tombs. These figurines were intended to act as servants for the deceased in the afterlife, performing tasks that would otherwise be required of the deceased person themselves. The term “ushabti” comes from the ancient Egyptian word “wsḥb,” which means “answerer.”
The ushabtis, or funerary figures were intended to perform work in the place of the deceased in the afterlife. They were usually made of faience, wood, or pottery and were various sizes. They were divided according to their functions and to the Egyptian calendar as follows: 365 workmen, each for one day of the year, and 36 overseers, each as a chief of a week of ten days or ten workers. They typically depict a mummiform figure with agricultural tools in hand, symbolizing their role as laborers or workers in the fields of the afterlife.
In the tomb of Tutankhamun, 12 supplementary foremen were added, one for each month, totaling 413. The Griffith Institute hosts the Howard Carter archives, which possess a thorough analysis of the complete collection, made by Howard Carter with photographs by Harry Burton.
Related: Mask of Tutankhamun
The ushabtis comprise around ten percent of the assemblage of artifacts in the tomb. Many of them are almost identical to one another. Most were found in groupings inside wooden boxes, with some wrapped in linen.
Ushabtis were created for royalty and the elite, but over time, they became more widespread and were included in the burials of many ancient Egyptians. The number of ushabtis buried with an individual could vary greatly, from just a few to several hundred, depending on the period and the individual’s beliefs about the afterlife. They were part of the elaborate funerary practices aimed at ensuring the deceased had everything they needed in the next life.
From the Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV62), Valley of the Kings, West Thebes. Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
