Funerary Figurine From Ancient Egypt

Figures are a common element of the funerary art of ancient Egypt. These figurines were small and intricately crafted, and were meant to serve as servants in the afterlife. They reflected the Egyptians’ belief that life after death continued in much the same way as it did on earth, and that preparation for afterlife comforts was just as important as ensuring the deceased would be fed and watered in this world. These figures, known as ushabtis or shawabti, were usually deposited with the dead in tombs, and often adorned with Egyptian artifacts.

These little figurines were also used to ward off evil in the afterlife, and for this purpose they often bore protective symbols. They were carved out of faience, a type of ceramic made of frit paste with blue-green glaze. They were sometimes pierced and strung with a thread, which could be used to carry messages of goodwill from the deceased to friends and family in the afterlife.

One such statuette is shown here, with the inscription “Sealed by Anubis” and a representation of the god’s jackal head. The jackal-headed god Anubis is associated with the afterlife, and in ancient Egyptian religion was thought to be the guardian of mummification and the guide of souls through the psychopomp process. He is also the protector of the mummy and its contents.

Statues like this were placed in the mummy chamber of the dead, so they could be brought to life when needed by the spirits of the deceased. They were often engraved with various professions and occupations, illustrating the beliefs that life after death was a continuation of earthly existence, and that the deceased could be called upon to perform tasks just as they did on earth.

Inscribed female figurines are rare, and this example is the only known to bear the phrase “hetep di nesut” (“may you be blessed with children”) – a formula that indicates a supplicatory role for the statue in a funerary context. This female figurine is also notable for its thinness, which is unusual for a figure of this period.

While it may seem surprising that this sculptural object misrepresents the subject as male, it is important to remember that Egyptian artists were not expected to represent their subjects in any particular gender. In fact, many of the sphinxes from the period of Akhenaten are believed to depict the female Pharaohs Nefertiti and Hatshepsut. This is a result of the changing attitudes toward gender that accompanied the rise of monotheism during this time.