Pharaohs and other important Egyptians were buried with Ushabtis, or "helpers," because they believed that these figurines would come to life in the afterlife and assist the deceased in performing any manual labor that was required of them. The ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife that was similar to the earthly realm, and they wanted to ensure that they had everything they needed to continue living in comfort and luxury in the next life. By burying Ushabtis with the deceased, they were ensuring that they would have servants to help them with any tasks that needed to be done. Additionally, the Ushabtis were inscribed with magical spells and incantations that were believed to help guide and protect the deceased in the afterlife.
