Shabti of Smen–ptah–psamtek

Mummiform shabti wearing a striated tripartite wig and a fairly broad 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. The right hand also holds the twisted rope for a basket that is carried behind the left shoulder. The face is quite well modelled. Cosmetic lines and eye brows are indicated in relief. The shabti is supported by a broad dorsal pillar, and stands upon a trapezoidal base. The body has eight horizontal bands of incised inscription.The owner of the shabti is named as Smen–Ptah–Psamtek. Transliteration and translation of the inscription: i wSb.ty ipn ir ip.tw Wsir Smn-PtH-PsmTk ms n tA-Sry.t-(n)-sxm.t r ir.t kA(.t) nb(.t) ir(.t).Tn im m Xr.t-nTr iw.tw Hw sDb.w im m s r Xrt.f m.k w(i) kA.tn r nw nb ir.t {ir.t} im r srwD sx.t r smH.y wDb.w r Xn.t Say n imn.tt r iAb.tt Ts pXr m.k w[i kA.tn], "O, these shabtis when called for the Osiris, Smen–Ptah–Psamtek, born to Ta–sheryt–(n)–Sehkmet, to do all works that you do in the realm of the dead – one implants obstacles therewith – as a man at his duties, ‘here I am,’ you shall say at any time to serve there, to irrigate the river banks, to cultivate the fields, to ferry the sand of the west to the east and vice–versa; ‘here I am,’ [you shall say]".