Fragment of limestone from the 1930s excavations at Tel el-Amarna marked 'TA/30.31 210 T.36.60'. T 36.60 is an area in the North Suburb which Frankfort and Pendlebury (1933) believed to be a mud-brick factory. In Frankfort and Pendlebury (1933, 51) 30/210 is described as 'fragment of a limestone group of monkeys'. The condition of EC751 makes it very difficult to discern a monkey or group of monkeys. Nevertheless, it is similar to known monkey groups from Amarna in its rounded form, that it is made from limestone, and has traces of paint upon it. Monkeys in the New Kingdom were often depicted in human poses, 'apeing' human behaviours, including that of the royal family. Those from Amarna most commonly depict 2 or 3 monkeys grooming or tending their young. Such items may have been fertility charms, toys or votive offerings. These animals also had religious significance. They were associated with the welcoming of the sun and with sexual potency. Temples had sacred monkeys attached to them and certain gods, such as Thoth, were linked to them. Stevens (2006, 106-110) states that over 200 stone and pottery figurines of monkeys were found at Amarna. Further Reading Frankfort, H. and Pendlebury J.D.S. 1933, 'The City of Akhenaten Part II, The north suburb and the desert altars: the excavations at tell el-Amarna during the seasons 1926-1932'. Egypt Exploration Society: London. Stevens, A. 2006. 'Private Religion at Amarna. The Material Evidence'. Archaeopress: Oxford.
