Shabti of Amunemipet

A finely carved shabti wearing a short sleeved tunic, and an ankle–length garment with a projecting triangular apron – the dress of daily life that was typical for wealthy noblemen during the New Kingdom. The tunic has sleeves that end above the elbows, showing details of pleating. The midriff is exposed with the belly button indicated. The apron has pleats on each side, and is tied at the back in a sash with further pleating shown in the modelling. The head of the shabti is pushing forwards, and wears an elaborate bipartite or duplex wig with curls defined in the modelling. The arms are well modelled, and crossed right over left above the waist. The right hand holds a djed pillar – an amulet that represents the backbone of Osiris as a symbol of strength, and the left hand holds a tyt amulet – a loop of cloth, tied and knotted, that was associated with the goddess Isis, and carried as a symbol of protection. A small but neatly defined basket with square–hatched detail is carried on the back behind the right shoulder. A horizontal yoke is shown in the modelling below the back of the wig that supports a pair of very small water pots that are indicted behind each shoulder. Water pots are very rarely found on shabtis of this type. The face of the shabti is round in shape with full cheeks. The eyes are somewhat bulbous, and the eye lids are quite thick. The broad nose is a little abraded. Crease lines are indicated at the neck. A pair of small pendant amulets of undetermined design are suspended from a thin cord worn around the neck. The ankles and feet are well defined in the modelling. Sandals are worn on the feet. There is a vertical column of an incised inscription on the front of the apron, while the torso of the shabti has a further five horizontal bands of inscription. The owner is named as Amun– em–ipet. The name is followed by a version of Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. Material identified as greenstone by the staff of the geology department at World Museum 21 August 2008. Bequest of Sir Rider Haggard, 1925. Translation of the inscription: The illuminated one, the Osiris, Amun–em–ipet, he speaks: O, these shabtis, if you are counted, if you are reckoned to do all the works that Transliteration and translation of the inscription: [Vertical]: sHD Wsir Imn-m-Ip.t Dd.f i, "The illuminated one, the Osiris, Amun– em–ipet, he speaks: O". [horizontal]: sHD Wsir Imn-m-Ip.t Dd.f i SAb.ty ip.tw iry ip.tw Hsb.t[w] r ir[.t] r kA.t.f nb r ir.t m Xr.t-nTr s r sDb.w srwD sx.t r smH.y wDb.w [r] Xn.t Say imn.tt, "The illuminated one, the Osiris, Amun–em–ipet, he speaks: O, these shabtis, if you are counted, if you are reckoned to do all the works that are to be done for him there in the realm of the dead, ?? obstacles? to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the river banks, to transport by boat the sand of the west".