024 Shabti Of Taharqo

In antiquity the Kingdom of Kush, located in modern day Sudan, was one of ancient Egypt’s major trading partners. Access to the rich natural resources of sub-Saharan Africa drew the Egyptians southward as early as 3000 BCE. Further south, the earliest urban centre in sub-Saharan Africa developed at Kerma, the capital of the Kushite kingdom and, by 1700 BCE, Kush was the most powerful state in the Nile Valley.

Following a power struggle between Egypt and Kush, a re-energized Egypt invaded Kush during the period of the ‘New Kingdom’ of 1550–1070 BCE. The Egyptians were keen to control trade into Africa and to exploit its riches, particularly gold, and they invaded and destroyed Kerma. However, the tables were turned in 747 BCE when Kush invaded Egypt and for almost a hundred years the Kushites ruled both kingdoms. The Kushites adopted and revitalized a number of Egyptian traditions and ruled as pharaohs. They worshipped Egyptian gods such as Amun, their officials wrote in Egyptian hieroglyphs, and they practiced Egyptian funerary rites—they even built pyramids. This shabti is a wonderful illustration of this meeting of cultures.

This object represents one of the most important Kushite kings—Taharqo. He ruled an empire that stretched from modern day Khartoum to the Mediterranean. When Taharqo died, his tomb was equipped in a fashion similar to that of the earlier Egyptian pharaohs. It included shabtis—figures placed in tombs to work for the deceased in the afterlife, which are often shown holding tools. This shabti is recognisably Egyptian in form, but the facial features are sub-Saharan African in inspiration, and are perhaps a likeness of King Taharqo.