What is the name of a mummy shaped amulet that held farm tools in ancient Egypt?

Question

I believe the word starts with an "s".
Thank You!!

I hope you are not getting points or credit for that answer !

Answer 1

These statuettes would be placed in a tomb along with a body. They are known as shabtis, meaning "answerer". In the Egyptian afterlife, a person could be called on to do work, but the shabti would step forward and answer, and do the work for them.

Early shabtis often only have the name or sometimes the titles of the owner on, but later ones also have a "magic spell" called the shabti formula. This is the inscription that tells us exactly what the shabti was supposed to do for its owner.

'O, this shabti, if the Osiris [owner's name] is detailed for any work in the afterlife or any unpleasant task is imposed on him there as a man at his duties, 'Here I am' you shall say.
If you are detailed at any time to serve there, to cultivate the fields, to irrigate the riverbanks, to ferry sand of the east to the west and vice-versa, 'Here I am' you shall say.'

here's a good pic of one

http://www.phouka.com/pharaoh/egypt/photos/museum/pt/shabti.jpg

Answer 2

Ancient Egypt Farming Tools

Answer 3

Shabti or Ushabti (Egyptian language); a funerary figurine, usually in the form of a mummy, which served as a dead man's deputy in order to do labor for him, mostly agricultural, in the afterlife.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabti

Others have mentioned shabti, but, since they are statuettes, I went looking for amulets. I didn't find the one you describe, but the link below has many amulets. Its interesting. The second link below has some wonderful pictures of actual shabti.Hope you find the one you're looking for.

Answer 4

shabti. It didn't hold farm tools. It was basically servants for the dead guy they were buried with in the afterlife. I guess some could hold farm tools but all didn't.