engleski

Shabtis from Graeco-Roman periods – Proposal for the classification (typology) of the shabtis discovered outside Egypt

Shabtis usually dates from the First Intermediate period until the end of the Hellenistic period. They changed their shapes, forms, texts and position of the agricultural implements a lot throughout history. These changes were classified in various typologies during 20th century (L. Speleers (1923), W. M. F. Petrie (1935), J. Monnet Saleh (1970), J. F. Aubert (1974), and H. Schneider (1977)) but chronologically usually only until the end of the Late period (30th Dynasty). By the time of the Ptolemaic Dynasty their main role almost disappeared and since then they became one of the main cultic symbols of the Isaic cults (Isis, Osiris, Serapis, Harpocrates, Anubis, Bes etc.). Shabtis were discovered in various Greek settlements and later in various provinces of the Roman Empire. They were traded as cult symbols ; they were manufactured in Egypt but probably in various workshops in main cultic centres of the Roman provinces. Until now such shabtis have not been classified or systematically studied. In many cases they were classified as “fakes” which are, in my opinion, definitely not. Such shabtis deserve to be re-interpreted as one of the main sources for the diffusion of the Ancient Egyptian cult deities. In this paper author will present the proposal for the classification (typology) of shabtis according to: form, decorations, headdress, implements, text and position of text, and material from which they were crafted (stone, pottery, glass, faience, wood etc.). He will also discuss various problems related with their provenance and previous dating.

shabtis; Graeco-Roman period; classifications (typologies); role in Isaic cults; diffusion; production; “ancient fakes”.

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