Shawabti

myminifactory

The ushabti, also known as shabti or shawabti with numerous variant spellings, was a sacred funerary figurine employed in ancient Egyptian spirituality. Ushabtis were strategically placed within tombs alongside grave goods, designed to serve as diligent servants or loyal attendants for the deceased should they be summoned to perform labor in the afterlife. The figurines often bore a hoe on their shoulder and a basket on their back, clearly indicating their intended role was to cultivate land for the benefit of the deceased. Most ushabtis were inscribed with hieroglyphs typically found on their legs, boldly asserting their willingness to answer the gods' call to work at a moment's notice.