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View: Obverse
Shawabty of Wahibre son of Wedjahor
Egyptian
Late Period, Dynasty 26–30
664–332 B.C.
Findspot: Egypt, Giza, Debris in pit G 7450 X II
Medium/Technique
Faience
Dimensions
Overall: 10 cm (3 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
Accession Number29.1798
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsTomb equipment – Shawabties and shawabty boxes
DescriptionThis mummiform shawabty is in the classic Late Period form which is characterized by tripartite wig, long beard, back pillar and base. The figure holds the pick on the right shoulder and hoe and cord to a small seed bag on the left. The arms are crossed opposite right over left. There is one unframed column of incised text on the back of the figure. The tripartite wig has incised lines denoting tresses. The piece was broken in three pieces and is now mended.
An ancient Egyptian shawabty is a funerary figurine that was intended to magically animate in the Afterlife in order to act as a proxy for the deceased when called upon to tend to field labor or other tasks. This expressed purpose was sometimes written on the shawabty itself in the form of a "Shawabty Spell," of which versions of various lengths are known. Shorter shawabty inscriptions could also just identify the deceased by name and, when applicable, title(s). However, many shawabtys carry no text at all. The ideal number of such figurines to include in a tomb or burial seems to have varied during different time periods.
This shawabti is inscribed with one vertical line containing Wahibre's name.
An ancient Egyptian shawabty is a funerary figurine that was intended to magically animate in the Afterlife in order to act as a proxy for the deceased when called upon to tend to field labor or other tasks. This expressed purpose was sometimes written on the shawabty itself in the form of a "Shawabty Spell," of which versions of various lengths are known. Shorter shawabty inscriptions could also just identify the deceased by name and, when applicable, title(s). However, many shawabtys carry no text at all. The ideal number of such figurines to include in a tomb or burial seems to have varied during different time periods.
This shawabti is inscribed with one vertical line containing Wahibre's name.
ProvenanceFrom Giza, debris in pit G 7450 X II. 1927: Excavated by the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; assigned to the MFA by the government of Egypt.