Sistrum: Egyptian musical instrument

A sistrum is a musical instrument that belongs to the family of percussion instruments. The musical instrument is mainly linked with the ancient Iraq and Egypt. The sistrum is made up of a handle and a U-shaped metal frame that is carved of bronze or brass and between 30 cm to 76 cm in width. When shaken, the small rings of thin metal on its movable crossbars manufacture a sound that can be from a soft clank to a loud jangling. The name of the musical instrument is taken from the greek verb “σείω, seio”,  which means to shake, and “σεῖστρον, seistron”, which means "that which is being shaken." The name of the instrument in the old Egyptian language was sekhem.

source: de.wikipedia.org

The sistrum was a sacred musical instrument in the ancient Egypt. Possibly, originating in the worship of the Bastet, the musical instrument was used in religious ceremonies and dances, especially in the worship of the goddess Hathor, with the U-shape of the instrument’s handle and frame seen as analogous to the face and horns of the cow goddess. The sistrum was also shaken to prevent the flooding of the Nile and to scare away set. Isis in her role as the creator and the mother was portrayed holding a pail symbolizing the flooding of the Nile, in one hand and the musical instrument in the other hand. The goddess Bast too is usually portrayed hilding a sistrum that is symbolizing her role as a goddess of dance, festivity and joy.

The musical instrument is still very much in use in the rites of the Coptic and Ethiopian churches. Apart from the portrayal in the Egyptian art with dancing and expression of joy, the musical instrument was also mentioned in the Egyptian literature.

The ancient Minoans also used the musical instrument, and a number of examples produced of local clay have been seen on the island of Crete. Five of these instrument was shown at the Archaeological Museum of the Agia Nikolaos. A sistrum is also portrayed on the Harvester Vase, an artifact that was found at the site of Agia Triada.

The musical instrument was occasionally renewed in the 19^th century western orchestral music, appearing most often in Act 1 of the opera Les Troven by Hector Berlioz, the French composer. In the modern days, the musical instrument is replaced by its close modern counterpart known as the tambourine. The effect manufactured by the instrument in music, when shaken in short, sharp and rhythmic pulses, is to arouse movement and activity. Like the tambourine, the rhythmic shaking is linked with religious events and ecstatic activities.