Shabti of Ankhefenkhonsu (Knonsu), Egyptian Priest
Production date
1069 BCE-945 BCE
Country
Egypt
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Object detail
Description
Pale green faience shabti of Ankhefenkhonsu, Egyptian Priest, with black painted inscription. Single column of text down the front, no border. Non-royal. Intact. Plain tripartite wig, black painted headband. Simple dots for eyes, no eyebrows or other painted facial features. Arms crossed across the chest, right over left, holding a (moulded and unpainted) crook and flail. Hanging basket painted on the back. A vertical column of heiroglyphs on the front gives the name as Ankh-ef-(en)-Khonsu. The iconography indicates a Lower Egyptian provenance, in the northern Delta region and possibly belonging to a common worker, named Ankhef(en)khonsu. Ankhef(en)khonsu translates to "his life is of Khonsu". The writing on this object is from an untrained writer.
Transliteration: Wsỉr sḥḏ ‘nḫ=f.ḫnsw mʒ‘-ḫrw
Transliteration: Wsỉr sḥḏ ‘nḫ=f.ḫnsw mʒ‘-ḫrw
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY Egyptian figure
Production date
1069 BCE-945 BCE
Production place
Measurements
L109mm x W42mm x D28mm
Media/Materials description
Egyptian faience is a ceramic material with a siliceous body and brightly coloured glaze.
Faience (composed of quartz, alkaline salts [natron or plant ash], lime, and metallic mineral-based colorant)
Glaze (formed by alkali and lime reacting with silica to form the glaze)
Faience (composed of quartz, alkaline salts [natron or plant ash], lime, and metallic mineral-based colorant)
Glaze (formed by alkali and lime reacting with silica to form the glaze)
Signature/Marks
heiroglyphs
E224
E224
History and use
Shabtis were commonly found in tombs from the Middle Kingdom onwards and their purpose was to act as servants in the afterlife, mainly for manual labour. Shabti’s can be made of stone, wood or faience and will have an inscription indicating the task they will perform. A shabti is always represented as a mummy.
Associated person
Registration number
E40047.2
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