BOOK: Egyptian Shabtis. H.M. Stewart. Paperback. 2008. Shire Egyptology. Ushabti.
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The ancient Egyptians believed that the statutory agricultural labor imposed on them in order to use the Nile floods would continue to be imposed after death and into the afterlife. The shabtis / ushabti – small inscribed figures of adult male/female forms – were formed and made of stone/clay. These figures would carry out the heavy manual agricultural tasks on behalf of a person in the afterlife.
To say that the shabtis figure was just an adornment around deceased Egyptians is a huge understatement. These figures provide a great deal of information about Egyptian artistry, religion, society, personal names/titles…. and much more.
This book is THE authoritative source on shabtis: the iconography, materials, inscriptions, manufacture…. as well as identifying characteristics and dating. All within 64 pages.
A very rare book especially at the price I have listed. For the Serious Student, Art Historian…. and – of course – esoteric collectors.