harp

Period: New Kingdom

Dynasty: Dynasty 18, late

Date: ca. 1390–1295 B.C.

Geography: From Egypt

Medium: Wood

Dimensions: L. (diagonally) 82 cm (32 5/16 in); l. of sound box 36 cm (14 3/16 in)

Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1943

Accession Number: 43.2.1
Egyptian arched harps from Dynasty 4 onward coexisted with a great variety of harps in different shapes and sizes. Two harp types were most common—the arched harp with a curved neck, like this one, and the angled harp with a neck sharply perpendicular to the body. Unlike most European versions, ancient Egyptian harps have no forepillars to strengthen and support the neck. Older forms of arched harps had four or five strings, this harp has twelve strings. Skin once covered the open, slightly waisted sound box. Rope tuning rings under each string gave a buzzing sound to the soft-sounding tone produced. Topping the arched frame of the harp is a carved human head.
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