Shabti Box of Ankhshepenwepet
The burial of Ankhshepenwepet included two small wooden shabti boxes with vaulted ends and flat lids. These were painted white, and inscribed with an offering prayer in black bordered with red lines around the box. As was usual for shabti boxes of this era, each lid was painted with an image of a boat in beige, yellow, and red, with a band of blue-green beneath the boat to represent water. These representations are likely connected with the pilgrimage to the sacred site of Abydos, cult place of the god Osiris, ruler of the dead. By traveling to this holy place, either in reality or symbolically, the deceased became associated with this god and was aided in his or her journey to join the ranks of the blessed dead.
On this box, the boat has its sail up, as if it were traveling south on its return from Abydos to Thebes, with the wind helping move the vessel against the north-flowing current. The other box (25.3.206) depicts a boat with a cabin, probably meant to represent a second vessel towed by the sailing boat; the re-animated deceased could shelter within this kiosk.
Inside the boxes were a total of 374 (158 in one and 216 in the other) small unbaked mud figures called shabtis, one for each day of the year. These were meant to carry out manual labor on behalf of the deceased if she were to be called upon to work in the afterlife.
On this box, the boat has its sail up, as if it were traveling south on its return from Abydos to Thebes, with the wind helping move the vessel against the north-flowing current. The other box (25.3.206) depicts a boat with a cabin, probably meant to represent a second vessel towed by the sailing boat; the re-animated deceased could shelter within this kiosk.
Inside the boxes were a total of 374 (158 in one and 216 in the other) small unbaked mud figures called shabtis, one for each day of the year. These were meant to carry out manual labor on behalf of the deceased if she were to be called upon to work in the afterlife.
Artwork Details
- Title: Shabti Box of Ankhshepenwepet
- Period: Late Period
- Dynasty: Dynasty 25–26
- Date: ca. 675–650 B.C.
- Geography: From Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Deir el-Bahri, Tomb of Ankhshepenwepet (MMA 56), MMA excavations, 1923–24
- Medium: Wood, paint
- Dimensions: 25 × 14 × 19.5 cm (9 13/16 × 5 1/2 × 7 11/16 in.)
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1925
- Object Number: 25.3.207.1a, b
- Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 924–889 B.C.
ca. 990–970 B.C.
ca. 1000–945 B.C.
ca. 1000–945 B.C.
656–650 BC
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.