What does a sistrum do?

The sistrum was a sacred instrument in ancient Egypt. Perhaps originating in the worship of Bat, it was used in dances and religious ceremonies, particularly in the worship of the goddess Hathor, with the U-shape of the sistrum’s handle and frame seen as resembling the face and horns of the cow goddess.

Where is sistrum from?

Egypt
Originally from Egypt and first seen in the Old Kingdom, the instrument was closely associated with ritual rites in honour of Isis. Indeed, in Egyptian art, the goddess and her priestesses are often depicted holding a sistrum. In Egypt the instrument had two forms – an oval hoop or a temple shape.

What is a sistrum made of?

Sistrum, Greek seistron, percussion instrument, a rattle consisting of a wood, metal, or clay frame set loosely with crossbars (often hung with jingles) that sound when the instrument is shaken. A handle is attached to the frame. In ancient Egypt, sistrums were either temple-shaped or had a closed-horseshoe shape.

Is sistrum an Idiophone?

Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin. The ancient Egyptians used the sistrum in religious ceremonies for warding off evil spirits.

Who is Isis the goddess?

Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. She was also wife to Osiris, god of the underworld, and bore him a son, Horus.

What does Ankh stand for?

Symbol of Life
NPS. The ankh symbol—sometimes referred to as the key of life or the key of the nile—is representative of eternal life in Ancient Egypt. Created by Africans long ago, the ankh is said to be the first–or original–cross.

What is the spiritual meaning of the ankh?

The ankh symbol—sometimes referred to as the key of life or the key of the nile—is representative of eternal life in Ancient Egypt. Created by Africans long ago, the ankh is said to be the first–or original–cross.

Who is Isis God?

Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. She was also wife to Osiris, god of the underworld, and bore him a son, Horus. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan.

Why did Osiris marry his sister Isis?

Osiris was the oldest and so became king of Egypt, and he married his sister Isis. Nepthys, however, felt sorry for her sister Isis, who wept endlessly over her lost husband. Isis, who had great magical powers, decided to find her husband and bring him back to life long enough so that they could have a child.