664-332 BC ANCIENT EGYPTIAN BLUE GLAZED FAIENCE USHABTI OF ANUBIS (LATE PERIOD)

• This blue glazed faience ushabti of the ancient Egyptian god, Anubis, is a rare opportunity to own an important piece of ancient Egyptian history from the 664-332BC Late Period.
• This ushabti of Anubis displays remnants of the figure`s detailing such as the jackal ears and the tripartite hair extending to the upper chest.
• The original blue glaze of the ushabti is still present throughout the entirety of the figure. The face of the figure has been lost to time.
• The ushabti (also called shabti or shawabti, with a number of variant spellings) was a funerary figure used in ancient Egyptian funerary practices.
• Ushabtis were placed in tombs among the grave goods and were intended to act as servants for the deceased, should they be called upon to carry out the tasks required of the deceased in the afterlife.
• Anubis, ancient Egyptian god of funerary practices and care of the dead, represented by a jackal or the figure of a man with the head of a jackal.
• Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Anubis assumed different roles in various contexts.
• Depicted as a protector of graves as early as the First Dynasty (c.3100 – c.2890 BC), Anubis was also an embalmer. By the Middle Kingdom (c.2055–1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris in his role as lord of the underworld.
• One of his prominent roles was as a god who ushered souls into the afterlife.
• He attended the weighing scale during the ``Weighing of the Heart``, in which it was determined whether a soul would be allowed to enter the realm of the dead.
• The Late Period of ancient Egypt refers to the last flowering of native Egyptian rulers after the Third Intermediate Period in the 26th Saite Dynasty founded by Psamtik I, but includes the time of Achaemenid Persian rule over Egypt after the conquest by Cambyses II in 525 BC as well.
• The Late Period existed from 664 BC until 332 BC, following a period of foreign rule by the Nubian 25th Dynasty and beginning with a short period of Neo-Assyrian suzerainty, with Psamtik I initially ruling as their vassal.
• The period ended with the conquests of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great and establishment of the Ptolemaic dynasty by his general Ptolemy I Sooter, one of the Hellenistic Diadochi from Macedon in northern Greece.
• Dated to 664 - 332 B.C. (Late Period)
• Size: 37mm x 8mm x 13mm
• Provenance: This piece was held in the private collection of an esteemed collector in North London, United Kingdom during the 1990s and has henceforth been held in a private collection in Sydney, Australia.
• Condition: This piece is extremely well preserved and remains in excellent condition. This ushabti has been restored by a museum-grade professional for preservation - refer images.
• Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Internationally recognised BidSafe authentication and verification number: 4998077-18)
• Inspected and verified by an archaeologist and prominent historical author with a PhD in archaeology. (SN:4998077-18) (311641-1)

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