In ancient Egypt prophets were divine messengers, with the ability to communicate the word of the gods and interpret their wishes. This made them valuable advisors to the Pharaohs, often leading religious ceremonies. Their role provided them with great status.
Made in quantity, due to their important role in the funeral rites, shabtis are some of the most commonly collected pieces from ancient Egypt. They come in a variety of sizes, materials, colors, level of quality, and intrigue gained from their owner's titles.
Created as servants to perform manual labor on behalf of their masters in the afterlife, shabtis are commonly depicted holding the tools of their trade. Hoes, picks, and seed bags are the most numerous, but other implements can be found. To ensure they'd obey the decesed they were inscribed with the name of their master and a summoning spell. Their name "shabti" comes from this function of being summoned and mean "the answerer." They often also are inscribed with passages from the book of the dead, which would assist the deceased's safe passage into the afterlife.
