Translated Egyptian Glazed Faience Ushabti for Semataui

Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 30th Dynasty, ca. 380 to 343 BCE. A beautiful mold-formed faience ushabti covered in lustrous turquoise-hued glaze. The figure stands in mummiform with fused feet atop an integral rectangular plinth, holds the symbolic pick and hoe in arms crossed atop the chest, and has a seed bag incised behind the left shoulder. The stylized visage exhibits almond-shaped eyes with elongated canthi, a broad nose, full lips with indented corners, cupped ears, and a plaited false beard, all beneath a tripartite wig with lengthy lappets and thin striations. Nine lines of inscribed hieroglyphic text identify this individual as Semataui (also Sema-Taui, Semitaui) - a Sameref priest and commander of Egyptian military troops - that provide him with blessings for his journey through the afterlife. Size: 2" W x 7.5" H (5.1 cm x 19 cm); 7.9" H (20.1 cm) on included custom stand.

This ushabti and many others like it were meant to be placed inside a tomb for the inscribed individual to aid them both in their journey to the afterlife as well as the duties prescribed to them. When translated, this ushabti reads, "The Illuminated, the Osiris, the Sameref priest, commander of the troop, Semataui, son of Sheri, born of Tashepset, justified, he says: O these ushabtis, if counted upon, the Osiris, the Sameref priest, commander of the troop, Semataui, son of Sheri, born of Tashepset, justified, to do all the works that are to be done there in the realm of the dead - now indeed obstacles are implanted there - as a man at his duties, 'here I am!' you shall say when you are counted upon at any time to serve there, to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the river banks, to ferry the sand of the west to the east and vice-versa, 'here I am' you shall say."

This is an interesting ushabti, because the names of the inscribed individuals tell us where Semataui lived. The inscribed names indicate that this individual was from Heracleopolis because his name "Semataui" (Greek Somtous, translated as "he who unifies the two lands") represents a provincial falcon-headed deity who was worshipped in this part of Egypt. The title bestowed to Semataui of "Sameref" (meaning "the son whom he loves") is a priestly title associated with Heracleopolis Magna (Middle Egypt). The name of his father, "Sheri" (meaning "the child"), as well as the name of his mother, "Tasepsetherti" (meaning "the noble one is content"), are also indicative of Middle Egyptian origin.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private New Jersey, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s; ex-Norman Blankman collection, New York, USA, acquired in 1959

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#152897 Dimensions: Condition Report: Minor nicks and abrasions to base, legs, body, and head, with softening to some finer details and inscribed hieroglyphic characters, light fading to original glaze pigmentation, and some pitting, otherwise intact and excellent. Great traces of original glaze pigment throughout, and most hieroglyphic characters are still legible.