Sunday, November 7, 2010 B
They didn't play Bob Seger's song, but I'd have sung along to that one, too:
"Old time rock and roll, that kind of music just soothes the soul,
Later this weekend, I was digging in my photo archives and found evidence of REALLY old time music!
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Plaque with Mesopotamian Harpist Iraq: Ishchali?, Isin-Larsa /Old Babylonian Period, ca. 2000-1600 BCE Baked clay, 12.3cm H, 7.7 cm W Purchased in Baghdad, 1930, OIM A9345 |
Men Playing Harps Left: Limestone, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, ca. 1350 BCE Right: Baked clay, Dynasties 18-19, ca. 1350-1070 BCE "These two figurines illustrate the main types of Egyptian harps: the floor harp (stone figure) and the tall harp (clay figurine) Poorly photographed info card, adjusted to increase contrast |
The info card above the two figurines explains: "The most common musical instruments in religious ceremonies were the sistrum (a type of rattle), and the menat (a beaded necklace with decorative counterpoise), both of which, when shaken, produced a rattling sound that was thought to please the gods." The Oriental museum has two examples of sistrums: |
Left: Bronze sistrum, Late Ptolemaic to Roman period, 3rd- H: 37.5cm, W: 8 cm, Th: 5 cm OIM 14058, From "The Life of Meresamun: A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt": "This example features a head of Hathor. Above the goddess is a tiny temple portal whose architraves are ornamented with recumbent lions. Crowned cobras rear up behind the lions." Among the details are "a cat nursing two kittens" "on top of the sistrum" and "the handle is in the form of the god Bes". Right: Faience naos-type sistrum, another view through this link. Late Period, Dynasty 26, reign of Amasis, 570-526 BCE OIM 10718, From the info card: "The rectangular top of the sistrum on the right imitates the form of a shrine of the goddess Hathor whose face, framed by a heavy wig, appears below the shrine. Since this sistrum is made of fragle faience, it is probably a model, or votive rattle used in offering ceremonies rather than an actual musical instrument. The handle is inscribed with the names of the king." |
Sistrum |
Bronze Sistrum |
Two Sistra |
The ancients danced to all that strumming and shaking: |
I took these photos last summer when I visited the Oriental Art Museum. They will all print to 5x7 inch format.
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