Mary Brodrick

A Concise Dictionary of Egyptian Archaeology: a Handbook for Students and Travellers Mary Brodrick

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 Excerpt: ...covered with bracing cords. It was slung over the shoulders and carried on the back while marching. It figures chiefly in military scenes. A drum similar to the modern darabooka is very occasionally represented on the tomb walls. It resembles a funnel-shaped vase of pottery with parchment strained over the wide mouth. The Cymbals were similar to modern ones, 1 only smaller. They were made of brass or a mixture of brass and silver. The Castanets were in the form of slightly curved sticks of wood or ivory about a foot long, terminating in a human head. The pictures of Tambourines on the tomb walls do not indicate the metal rings which we associate with the instrument. But from the way in which the performer is seen to hold it up we may conclude that the Egyptian tambourine was provided with them. Of Wind Instruments only wooden ones have been preserved; but pictures on the monuments show troops accompanied by men with Trumpets. The instrument represented is a simple one about 1 ft. long, made apparently of brass. The Flute was of various kinds. Sometimes it was of extraordinary length--between 4 and 5 ft. The specimens found vary from 7 to 15 ins. in length. They were made of reeds chiefly, and had three, four, and sometimes five holes. Flutes were also made of wood, of ivory, of horn, and bone. The Double Pipe is more frequently depicted on the monuments than the flute, oftenest played by women, and sometimes while the performer dances. It was made of the same materials as the flute. The Stringed Instruments represented on the monuments are of several kinds. Besides the Harp (q.v.) there were lyres, guitars or lutes, and others of which we do not know the names. The lyre is of various forms, and is decorated in many ways. It had from five to eighteen strings...