New Kingdom funerary figurines in context: An analysis of the cemeteries of Aniba, Gurob, and Soleb

Though funerary figurines, or shabtis, have formed the focus of several studies about ancient Egyptian funerary objects over the past century, the primary perspective employed in these studies has been one of art historical analysis. While invaluable in providing information about the development and iconography of these objects, such a perspective fails to examine funerary figurines in an archaeological context. A contextual examination provides information about such issues as the socio-economic status of funerary figurine owners; gender differences in the use of funerary figurines; and helps to explain the numerous textual and iconographic variations that occur on figurines of New Kingdom date (ca. 1550-1070 B.C.), especially within groups of figurines made for one owner. This study analyzes the use of funerary figurines in three cemeteries of New Kingdom date: Aniba, Gurob, and Soleb. The detailed analysis presented here includes a discussion of the texts found on New Kingdom funerary figurines, which enhances our understanding of the meaning of this text and the figurines that bear it. Detailed analysis of the socio-economic status of the tombs at the sites of Aniba, Gurob, and Soleb highlights the restricted use of funerary figurines at these sites, a restriction that may reflect a societal construct not yet understood. Iconographic examination of the figurines from these three sites, including first-hand study of the figurines from Aniba and Gurob now housed in the University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia, demonstrates the types of variation that may occur within figurines from a particular cemetery and within a group of figurines. Iconographic variation within groups of figurines appears within the texts written on the members of a group, the body colors displayed by group members, and, sometimes, within the tools and implements held by members of a group. Study of two groups of faience funerary figurines from Aniba shows that at least some of these variations are intentional, and suggests that the meaning of funerary figurines, within the world view of the ancient Egyptians, was far richer than previously understood