Ancient Egyptian 26th Dynasty Ushabti for Saiset

A very finely modelled Ancient Egyptian turquoise glazed faience ushabti, with seven horizontal lines of hieroglyphic text. The ushabti is shown wearing a tripartite wig and a false beard. Its hands, depicted parallel and in relief, hold an adze and a hoe. A basket hangs behind him on his left shoulder. The body has been inscribed with hieroglyphs in linear formation, with seven rows of text. The reverse features a back pillar, also inscribed with hieroglyphs. The moulded details remain very well preserved, with very clear facial features and hieroglyphs.

The hieroglyphs transliterate as:

1. ḏd mdw i-wsbtt ipm ir (i)p

2. ṯ(w) Wsir rh-nsw fkty S} -ist

3. (r) ir (t) k} (t) nb(t) im (m) hrt-nṯr i(s)t hwi sḏb im

4. (m) s nb r hr(t) . F mk (wi) k}. tn

5. ip. t (w) tn r nw nb ir (t) im r srwḏ

6. sh(w)t r smh wḏbt

7. (r) hni s’ n imntt mk (wi) k}. tn

The translation of the hieroglyphs reads:

1. ‘O, this ushebty, if

2. one reckons the Osiris, the King’s Aquaintance, the Fekt priest, Saiset,

3. (to) do any work there (in) the underworld, for lo, obstacles are implanted there

4. (as for) any man as his duty, “Behold (me), you shall say

5. If you are reckoned at any time to work there, to

6. make the fields flourish, to irrigate the riparian-land

7. or (to) transport sand of the west, “Behold (me). you shall say”