The Impact of Geographical, Political, and Economic Changes on the Afterlife Belief in Ancient Egypt: The Case of Shabtis

Abstract

Shabti is a term used for figurines, often crafted in mummy form, as artifacts of Ancient Egyptian mortuary culture. These figurines span from the Middle Kingdom (1980-1760 BCE) through the end of Ptolemaic period (332-30 BCE). It is claimed to have even persisted into the Greco-Roman epoch although this is controversial. They were fashioned from manifold materials. As one of the most common artifact groups found in museums today, shabtis underwent diverse transformations throughout their long period of use. These transformations affected both the stylistic features and essential character of these figurines. Initially conceived as embodiments of both the deceased and their servants, the role of shabtis oscillated between representing the dead and highlighting their role as servants. The evolution in the character of these servant statues placed in tombs reflects the prevailing geographical, political, and economic tides of their times. Hence, the study of shabtis presents a fascinating example to examine the shifts concerning belief in the afterlife during Egyptian antiquity. This article provides an overview of the impact of geographical, political, and economic changes on shabtis from the time they first appeared until they fell out of use.

Keywords

• Shabti
• belief in life after death
• servant/slave
• economy

Şabtilerin Dinî Kökenleri, Fonksiyonları ve Dönüşümü

Abstract

Shabti, Antik Mısır’da mezarlara koyulan genellikle mumya formundaki figürinler için kullanılan bir kavramdır. Çeşitli malzemelerden yapılan bu figürinler, Orta Krallıktan (MÖ. 1980-1760) Ptolemy döneminin (MÖ. 332-30) sonuna kadar kullanılmıştır. Bugün müzelerde en çok bulunan malzeme gruplarından birini oluşturan shabtilerin, tartışmalı olmakla birlikte Greko-Roman dönemde bile kullanıldığı düşünülmektedir. Oldukça uzun bir kullanım süresi olan figürinler, bu süreçte çeşitli değişimlerden geçmiştir. Bu değişimler figürinlerin hem üslup özellikleri hem de mahiyetleri açısından gerçekleşmiştir. Bir taraftan ölünün kendisini diğer taraftan hizmetkârlarını temsil ettiği düşünülen figürinlerin bu rolleri her zaman eşit düzeyde olmamış, zaman zaman onların ölüyle özdeşleştirilmeleri zaman zaman da hizmetkâr olarak rolleri ön plana çıkmıştır. Mezarlara koyulan hizmetkâr heykellerinin devamı niteliğinde olan figürinlerin mahiyetinde yaşanan bu farklılıklarda coğrafî, siyasî ve ekonomik değişimler etkili olmuştur. Bu nedenle shabtiler, Mısır tarihi boyunca öldükten sonra yaşam inancında karşılaşılan değişimlerin temelinde yatan diğer etkenleri görebilmek adına güzel bir örneklik teşkil etmektedir. Bu yazıda, figürinlerin ilk ortaya çıktığı dönemden, kullanımdan kalkıncaya kadarki süreçte yaşanan coğrafî, siyasî ve ekonomik alanlardaki değişimlerin shabtiler üzerindeki etkisine dair genel bir çerçeve çizilmektedir.

Keywords

• Shabti
• öldükten sonra yaşam inancı
• hizmetkâr/köle
• ekonomi

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