Provisions from Nubia Stored in the Temple, Tomb of Rekhmire

The relief employs a bright red background resembling a woven mat, over which four green monkeys are painted in bold, flat color without modeling. A figure in a blue robe holds a long pole, and a slender attendant in a headdress stands to the right, all executed in the linear, non‑shaded style typical of elite tomb decoration.

The scene was documented in the early twentieth century by Egyptologists Nina M. Davies and Norman de Garis Davies, who recorded it in 1490 (catalogue number). Their publication contributed to the scholarly corpus of Egyptian tomb paintings, preserving the visual details of the work for later study.

Rekhmire’s tomb contains numerous depictions of daily life, offerings, and administrative duties, reflecting his status and the belief that such images would provide sustenance in the afterlife. The inclusion of monkeys, associated with Nubian trade, underscores Egypt’s economic links with its southern neighbor during the New Kingdom.