Scarab with monkeys climbing a palm tree (New Year's wish)

The base of this scarab shows a pair of monkeys, standing on either side of a tree, climbing or shaking it with both hands. In nature, monkeys are closely associated with dates and palm trees because they climb date palms to pluck the ripe fruits. The theme of monkeys on either side of a palm tree is, however, an ancient Egyptian ‘hidden’ message; it represents a New Year’s wish. The ancient Egyptians write the word for year with a palm branch, and the presence of the monkeys leaves no doubt that the tree with three branches shown here, represents the palm tree. Secondly, as a hieroglyph, the monkey can be used as a sign for good and beautiful (nefer). The scene thus literally expresses a wish for a good year.

Most scarabs with this design date to Dynasty 19-22 (ca. 1295-712 B.C.), based on their morphology and the archaeological contexts in which they were found. This particular scarab dates to the Ramesside Period (Dynasty 19-20, ca. 1295-1070 B.C.) because it is a characteristic shape of that period, showing a small scarab beetle seated atop the seal-amulet’s back, its legs, decorated with fine hatching, proportionally much larger than in nature.

Vanessa Boschloos, Andrew W. Mellon Curatorial Research Fellow, 2018

rnp.t nfr(.t)

Good year

Collection of Judge Elbert E. Farman, formed when he was U.S. consul general in Egypt 1876–84. Donated to the museum by Darius Ogden Mills, New York, in 1904.