DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0044
28 DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE EGYPTIANS.
similar to the tomtom of India. It formed part of the military
band; and the buffoons in the street danced to its sound
(woodcut 15).
Most of the Egyptian instruments were admitted on occa-
sions of festivity and rejoicing; but the trumpet was chiefly
confined to the military band; to which also belonged, though not
exclusively, the tomtom-drum, the clappers, and a few others.
Cymbals were mostly used by the sacred minstrels. They
were of metal, and like those of modern days, though smaller,
being from five and a half to seven inches in diameter. Clappers,
the crotala of the Greeks, were of hard wood, bone, ivory, shells,
or metal; which, held one in each hand, were struck together,
and, giving a sharp sound, like our castanets, were often used
as an accompaniment to other instruments. Sometimes a
man danced a solo to their sound, and to the clapping of hands.
They were also admitted in festive and solemn ceremonies.
But the sistrum was peculiarly appropriated to religious rites,
and its jingling sound was thought to drive away Typhon, or
the devil. To hold it in the temple wras a highly honourable
office, entrusted only to the queens, and those holy women who
dedicated themselves to the service of the gods, and who seem
to have constituted a sort of sacred college, or sisterhood,
resembling in some degree the conventual communities of later
times ; though their vows did not prevent their attending also
to social and other duties, as wives, and members of society.
Sacred music was much used in Egypt; and the harp, lyre,
guitar, flute, double-pipe, tambourine, clappers, cymbals, and
sistrum were admitted in various religious services, of which
music formed an important part, as with the Jews.
Dancing was quite as indispensable at an Egyptian party as
music, and the performers were in like manner hired for the
occasion. They did not pride themselves only on the variety of
similar to the tomtom of India. It formed part of the military
band; and the buffoons in the street danced to its sound
(woodcut 15).
Most of the Egyptian instruments were admitted on occa-
sions of festivity and rejoicing; but the trumpet was chiefly
confined to the military band; to which also belonged, though not
exclusively, the tomtom-drum, the clappers, and a few others.
Cymbals were mostly used by the sacred minstrels. They
were of metal, and like those of modern days, though smaller,
being from five and a half to seven inches in diameter. Clappers,
the crotala of the Greeks, were of hard wood, bone, ivory, shells,
or metal; which, held one in each hand, were struck together,
and, giving a sharp sound, like our castanets, were often used
as an accompaniment to other instruments. Sometimes a
man danced a solo to their sound, and to the clapping of hands.
They were also admitted in festive and solemn ceremonies.
But the sistrum was peculiarly appropriated to religious rites,
and its jingling sound was thought to drive away Typhon, or
the devil. To hold it in the temple wras a highly honourable
office, entrusted only to the queens, and those holy women who
dedicated themselves to the service of the gods, and who seem
to have constituted a sort of sacred college, or sisterhood,
resembling in some degree the conventual communities of later
times ; though their vows did not prevent their attending also
to social and other duties, as wives, and members of society.
Sacred music was much used in Egypt; and the harp, lyre,
guitar, flute, double-pipe, tambourine, clappers, cymbals, and
sistrum were admitted in various religious services, of which
music formed an important part, as with the Jews.
Dancing was quite as indispensable at an Egyptian party as
music, and the performers were in like manner hired for the
occasion. They did not pride themselves only on the variety of