Shabti of Pakhaas

Mummiform shabti wearing a striated tripartite wig, worn quite low on the forehead, and a plaited divine beard. The arms are crossed right over left on the chest. Hands emerge from a shroud to hold a hoe in the left, and a pick in the right. The implements are well modelled in relief. The hoe has a twisted wiry tie. The right hand also holds the twisted rope of a well defined basket that is suspended behind the left shoulder. Although damaged, it is evident that the face was finely modelled. The eyes are almond–shaped with cosmetic lines in relief. Gently arching brows are also rendered in relief. The nose is fairly narrow and the mouth has a faint smile. The shabti stands against a dorsal pillar and upon a trapezoidal base. The body of the figure has nine horizontal bands of incised inscription naming the owner as Pa–khaas, with the title Chief of the Troops. His mother is named as Ta–shedidi, and the remaining text is Chapter 6 of the Book of the Dead. Transliteration and translation of the inscription: sHD Wsir Hry-mSa pA-xAa.s ms tA-Sdidi mAa-xrw Dd.f i wSb.ty ipn ir ip.tw Wsir Hr.y-mSa pA-xAaw-sw ms (n) tA-Sadidi mAa-xrw r ir.t kA.t nb(.t) ir im m Xr.t-nTr ist Hw sDb.w im m s r Xrt.f m.k wi kA.tn ip.tw.tn r nw nb ir.t im r srwD sx.t r smH.y wDb.w (r) Xn.t say tn (imn.tt r) iAb.tt Ts pXr m.k wi kA.tn, "The illuminated one, the Osiris, the Chief of the Troops, Pa– khaas, born (to) Ta–shedidi, justified, he speaks: O, these shabtis, if one counts, the Osiris, the Chief of the Troops, Pa–khaas, born to Ta–shedidi, justified, to do all the works that are to be done in the realm of the dead – now indeed obstacles are implanted therewith – as a man at his duties, ‘here I am,’ you shall say when you are counted off at any time to serve there, to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the river banks, to ferry sand of the (west to the) east and vice–versa; ‘here I am,’ you shall say".