Sistrum
JE 67887 Cairo Antiquity Museum
Material: Gilded Wood
Size: Height: 16 cm; Width: 4.5 cm; Depth 1.8 cm
Period: Ptolemaic (Greek) Period (332-330 BC)
A sistrum is a rattle that formed an important element in ancient Egyptian rituals. In fact, sistrums, thought to be derived from the ancient Egyptian prototype are still used in Coptic and Ethiopian liturgical music. The rhythmic sound that it makes was no doubt intended to induce an altered state of consciousness.
This is a particularly fine example, unusual in being very small.
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