Rasseln für die Ewigkeit: Die ältesten Perkussionsinstrumente im pharaonischen Ägypten

Abstract

A variety of idiophones and membranophones have survived in Egypt until the end of the New Kingdom, but there are about 2000 years between the first appearance of representatives of both groups. The study analyzes which idiophones and membranophones are specifically documented in Egypt and when they occur for the first time, whereby different datings in older publications could be corrected due to the inclusion of new finds and a critical examination of the old ones. The analysis showed that rattles are attested in the 5th millennium BC, clappers 1000 years later in the 4th millennium BC and the Daraboukah another 1000 years later in the 3rd millennium BC. About 160 years later, the first round frame drum, another 150 years later around 2300 BC the menat is documented, while the evidence for the sistrum increases at the same time. Furthermore the interaction of idiophones and membraneophones is analysed.

Keywords

• idiophone
• membranophone
• sistrum
• menat
• rattle
• clapper