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Shabti of Nestanebetisheru

Third Intermediate Period
ca. 1000–945 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 130
Daughter of the High Priest of Amun, Painedjem II, and his principal wife, Nesikhonsu, Nestanebetisheru was buried with her parents in the First Royal Cache near the bay of cliffs at Deir el-Bahri. Her assemblage, one of the latest burials to be included in the cache, consisted of a coffin set, copper vessels, an Osiris figure, canopic jars, and shabti boxes full of shabtis. The titles found on her equipment, which include First Great Chief of the Principal Khener (Musical Troupe) of Amun, indicate that Nestanebetisheru was the highest ranking member of the female clergy of Amun during her lifetime.

This is a mummiform "worker" shabti, holding a hoe in each hand and a seed basket on its back. On the body, inscribed in eight columns, is the "shabti spell" (Chapter 6) from the Book of Coming Forth by Day (commonly known as the Book of the Dead). This text asks the shabti to answer, and promise to carry out agricultural labor on Nestanebetisheru's behalf when called upon to do so in the afterlife.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Shabti of Nestanebetisheru
  • Period: Third Intermediate Period
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 21
  • Date: ca. 1000–945 BCE
  • Geography: Presumably from Egypt, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Valleys south of Deir el-Bahri, Valley of the Cachette, First Royal Cache (TT 320), Burial of Nesinebtasheru, Egyptian Antiquities Service excavations, 1881
  • Medium: Faience
  • Dimensions: H. 14.9 cm (5 7/8 in.)
  • Credit Line: Museum Accession
  • Object Number: O.C.845
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

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Shabti of the High Priest of Amun, Painedjem II, Faience
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Faience Overseer Ushabti, Clay, glazed, Cypriot
Faience Overseer Ushabti
Cypriot
7th–6th century BCE
Arched Harp (shoulder harp), Wood
Arched Harp (shoulder harp)
ca. 1386–1300 BCE
Shabti of the High Priest of Amun, Painedjem II, Faience
Shabti of the High Priest of Amun, Painedjem II
ca. 1000–979 BCE
Faience Ushabti, Faience, Cypriot
Faience Ushabti
Cypriot
7th- 6th century BCE

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