Twelve painted wooden shabtis of Henutmehyt were placed in a box and deposited in her tomb in Thebes. The largest shabty measures 22.13 cm and weighs 2 kg.
A ushabty (or shabty) is a funeral figurine inscribed with the name of its owner, the deceased, to answer for them during the judgment of the dead when their name is called.
A ushabty also served the deceased in the afterlife and conducted their tasks for them. When the deceased was, for example, ordered to cultivate a field, the ushabty was supposed to answer: “Here I am.” and to fullfil the task.
The tradition to endow the deceased with ushabties dates back to the Old Kingdom.
Shebty-boxes like the one shown in the photo are typical for Thebes. During the Late Period burials could contain up to 400 ushabties.
