Ushabti: Servant Statuettes of the Afterlife

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A Formal Analysis of Ushabti During the third intermediate period, the symbolic images of servants were painted inside the tombs to aid the deceased in the afterworld. This practice developed into the usage of mummy-like statuettes known as Ushabti, which is a small statue, found to be in 22nd Dynasty, 800BCE; it was believed to turn into a servant after attaining the afterlife, therefore it was buried with the body (Stevens). As these materials have magical means, often seen in Egyptian religious beliefs, a magical mean of the ushabti followed after-life of its deceased. The figurine appears to be inscribed with a special spell that contains summons; the intent of figure is placed in the tomb to act as substitute for its deceased body. This magical figurine was detailed to respond in the …show more content…

The absence of any open spaces contributes to the figure’s composure and self-containment. The slight upward tilt of the head and the suggestion of an upward gaze of the eye give the impression of eagerness and alertness. The small figurine is roughly about 10.5 inches long and it could vary considerably in size and in the types of material used is directly related to the wealth of the deceased (Stevens). It is molded with faience, which is a paste made of grounded quartz or sand with a high percentage of quartz (Stevens). Egyptian faience is a sintered-quartz ceramic displaying surface nitrification, which creates a bright luster of various colors, with blue-green being the most common. My greatest attention grabber from this figure is the color; vibrant bluish tones remind me of the ocean. The use of cool colors on the whole figure creates unity. The surface color is mostly in the cool hues of blue, but not in its normal value; it may have some green mixed in with it. Furthermore, the bluish shade symbolizes the color of Nile

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