The Sistrum

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Historical background:

Sistrum is a Greek verb to shake and it was called in Ancient Egypt by sSSt.

It is a musical instrument shaped like the anx; it was mainly used in religious rituals. According to early historians its origin is unknown. It is attested in Egypt since at least the Old Kingdom. Scenes found on walls show it in the hands of priests and priestesses while performing musical rites, while the king played it in temple rituals standing before the gods.

There were two identical sistra found on one of the funerary beds (the one with the head of a cow) in the antechamber. They were probably used during real life as indicated by signs of wear on the inside of the arch. It is possible that they were used during the burial ritual of king Tutankhamen then left on the funerary bed. The sistrum was believed to magically produce the universal harmony heard only by the gods. It is considered a magical object for Hathor due to the rusting sound that the cow goddess caused while walking through the marshes.

Material:

The octagonal handle is made out of wood covered with gold leaf. It takes the shape of the anx sign. The upper part arch) is made out of metal covered with gold leaf. There are three serpent like metal rods, with three square metal jangles running through them. These make music (jingling sound) when shaken.

Gods and goddesses associated with the sistrum are Isis, Hathor, Bes, Bastet (as it was given to her by Isis) and Ihy son of Hathor; he was represented as a naked child holding the sistrum.