Egyptian Collectables

Hello. It is Steve here again.

One of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Egypt to me is their preparation for the afterlife.

Unlike religions today, ancient Egyptian religion held the belief that you “can take it with you”. This can be seen in the items discovered in many undisturbed Egyptian tombs. Egyptians believed that the dead could take a considerable number of items with them to aid them in the afterlife. Replicas of these items are among some of the most popular Egyptian collectables today.

King Tut

In many cases, Egyptian kings, as well as high officials and others began stocking their tombs with goods long before their death. For many important Egyptians, burials usually included the mummified body, placed in a series of coffins nested one inside the other and then placed inside a stone sarcophagus. In addition to the sarcophagus, there were also many other items, including magical items to assist the departed, and a variety of mundane objects for their use.

Shabti Statues

In many of the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, hundreds of shabti figures have been discovered.  These are “magical” workers and servants for the next life and were often produced of stone, faience or wood.  In some cases, model farming implements and tools for the figures were also included. These figures are also popular Egyptian collectables, as they were a key component to a leisurely afterlife experience.

Another type of ritualistic object found was the Osiris beds.  These are wooden trays in the form of the god Osiris, king of the Underworld and originally a god of agriculture and nature. Seeds of grain were planted in these beds and they were expected to germinate once the tomb was sealed. This was symbolic of the continuation of life after death.

Along with the ritualistic items, many ordinary items were also buried with the king. These varied with the king’s interests and the items would vary from tomb to tomb.  These items assured the king that he would live with the same level of comfort in the afterlife that he did before his death.

Common find in many tombs were clothing and shoes for the king, fine jewels, perfumes and cosmetics, games, musical instruments, writing materials, heirlooms, fine tableware made of precious metals, pottery and glass, and even food items including preserved meats, grain, fruits as well as wine and beer. Egyptian furniture was also provided, including chairs, beds, boxes, chests baskets and lamps.

Canopic Jar on Ritual Plate

Other common Egyptian collectables include canopic jars. During the Egyptian mummification process, many of the body’s organs would be removed, including the brain, liver, lungs, stomach and intestines. The organs were then placed in four jars for storage. The jars themselves usually had stoppers designed in the shape of human heads. These jars were sometimes placed into a niche at the foot of the sarcophagi, or could also be stored elsewhere within the tomb.

Common burials included many of the same types of items, though poorer in nature from the items found in royal burials. Obviously, the ancient Egyptians believed that they could take along their wealth into the afterworld. In fact, for them it was a necessity to be well prepared, with all the essentials at hand. 

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