Feature Object: Arched Shoulder Harp, New Kingdom


Feature Object: Arched Shoulder Harp, New Kingdom
Music and musicians played a role in both sacred and secular contexts in ancient Egypt. Music and dance is depicted in the context of tombs such as Nebamun[1] (New Kingdom) and on the walls of significant temples, which had their own staff of singers, dancers and musicians.

It's hard to know how instruments were tuned and played in Ancient Egypt but a few precious examples of instruments have survived.

Tomb walls from the Middle Kingdom and Papyri from the New Kingdom (such as Harris 500[2]) do provide us with some lyrics, which often extol the audience to cherish life and celebrate it.

This beautiful example is from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

[1] https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/a-feast-for-nebamun-the-top-half-of-a-scene-from-the-tomb-chapel-of-nebamun/MgGAnWLJymZxMA
[2] https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=438703&objectId=110336&partId=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harper%27s_Songs
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/546194

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