Collection
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Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Sistrum (Rattle)

332–30 B.C.E.

1 of 6

Object Label

The human face with cow’s ears and horns on the sistrum’s handle represents the goddess Hathor, who personifies heaven and motherhood. The pairs of holes originally held rods with metal disks or squares that produced sound when shaken. Egyptian myths suggest that enraged gods and goddesses became pacified at hearing the sounds of the sistrum. As a symbol of Hathor appeased, the sistrum came to be used in rituals and ceremonies for Hathor, Bastet, and other deities.

Caption

Sistrum (Rattle), 332–30 B.C.E.. Bronze, 10 3/16 x 2 11/16 x 1 5/16 in. (25.9 x 6.9 x 3.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.583E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.583E_view01_PS11.jpg)

Title

Sistrum (Rattle)

Date

332–30 B.C.E.

Period

Ptolemaic Period

Geography

Place made: Egypt

Medium

Bronze

Classification

Musical Instrument

Dimensions

10 3/16 x 2 11/16 x 1 5/16 in. (25.9 x 6.9 x 3.4 cm)

Credit Line

Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

Accession Number

37.583E

Rights

Creative Commons-BY

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Frequent Art Questions

  • How does the rattle work?

    How does the rattle work?
    That's a great question! A sistrum was often used in religious processions. It is composed of a handle and the curved frame that you see there. What this piece that you're looking at is missing is either metal or clay elements that would have been on the cross-bar and would make noise when the instrument was shaken.
    It was used by female temple singers. It was believed to drive away evil forces; the sistrum is also shaped like the "ankh" or the hieroglyph for "life" and came to represent life for the ancient Egyptians.

  • What art in ancient Egypt are pertained to music?

    This first thing that comes to mind are depictions of musicians. Look for something called "Relief with Female Musicians" in the Later Egypt gallery.
    There is another relief called "Musicians" in the Amarna Period gallery.
    There are also fragmentary sistra (singular: sistrum) an ancient rattle-like instrument, in the Older Egypt gallery.

  • Tell me more.

    This is a sistrum, an ancient rattle like instrument that was popular especially in ceremonies dedication to Hathor who is depicted on the handle,

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