Shabti of Meribptah

The upper part of a mummiform shabti wearing a plain tripartite wig and a plaited divine beard. The arms are crossed right over left on the chest, and the hands emerge from a shroud to hold a pick in the left, and a hoe in the right. A basket is carried behind the left shoulder being supported by a twisted cord that is also held in the right hand. The face is ovoid in shape and has chubby cheeks. The eyes are high on the face, with brows modelled in relief. The nose is long, and the mouth quite pinched. The shabti is supported by a dorsal pillar. The object is broken above the knees but the remaining upper part of the torso has four horizontal bands of incised inscription naming the owner as Mer–ib–Ptah followed by Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. Transliteration and translation of the inscription: sHD Wsir mr-ib-ptH rn.f nfr psmTk-mr.y-ptH mAa-xrw mw.t(.f) mr-Hr-it.s Dd.f i wSb.ty ipn ir ip.tw Wsir mr-ib-ptH mAa-xrw r ir(.t) kA.t nb(.t) ir im m Xr.t-nTr ist Hw sDb(.w) im m ...., "The illuminated one, the Osiris, Mer–ib–Ptah, his ‘Good name,’ Psamtek–mery–Ptah, justified, mother Mer–Hor–ites, he speaks: O, these shabtis, if one counts, the Osiris, Mer–ib–Ptah, justified, to do all works that are to be done there in the realm of the dead – now indeed obstacles are implanted therewith ….."