Sistrum (pl sistra) is a ritual music rattle used in ceremony and celebration. Beloved Royal Wife Nefertari of Egypt in the 13th century BCE is especially skilled in its use. The sistrum is central to the worship of goddess Hathor, also deity of love, fertility, song & music.
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A sistrum (Greek σεῖστρον seistron "that which is being shaken") is a percussion instrument. Handle and frame are of brass or bronze. A type of rattle, the sistrum is most often used by the ancient Egyptians, though traces appear in cultures such as the Minoan.
hieroglyph for sistrum
The frames range in width so different instruments can produce tonal variety within the rhythmic emphasis. Crossbars are inserted into or through the instrument frame. The handle can be plain, decorative or embellished with a cow's head or other symbol.
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The ancient Egyptian sistrum relates specifically to religious and ritualistic practices regarding musical and joyful deities. A sekhem is the simpler, hoop-like sistrum, as at top. Sesheshet is the naos-shaped (shrine-shaped) instrument, named for the sound it makes.
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"In the ancient Egyptian language this instrument's name was sesheshet (sššt), an onomatopoeic word derived from the sounds of the instrument — that is, a soft jangling sound that resembles a breeze rustling/blowing through papyrus." Tahya (July 2018) "Rediscovering the Sistrum"
The sistrum is a woman's instrument. It's played by women worshippers or musical priestesses for rituals. The only exception is during festivals, when the king uses the sistrum in presenting a gift or sacrifice to Hathor.
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When the sistrum is shaken, small rings or loops of metal on the crossbars produce a soft clink to loud jangling noise. The sounds can be accompanied by voice, chanting or rhythmic movement.
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Bells or clappers can be attached. The rods might move back and forth, changing tone and musical texture with light hiss to strong metallic sounds. The energy ranges from low-key to formidable with a wide range of possible patterns.
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Nefertari (above) is the First Royal Wife of Ramesses II. He loves her deeply, but sadly she's not well, and departs for the Aaru in 1255 BCE. Here she's shown with a ritual sekhem sistrum and impressive headdress.
She wears the tall double plumes of Amun; a sun disc encircled with Hathor horns; and the Goddess Nekhbet vulture crown, attire of royal women. In one hand is a sekhem sistrum; in the other a blue lotus, used by priestesses and priests to attain spiritual vision.
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In the beginning the sistrum is also used for secular music, dancing, singing and revelry. About the 18th dynasty (c. 1550 - 1290 BCE) use of the sistrum becomes more restricted until it's used only for religious purposes. The musical sounds can soothe even angry gods.
The sistrum is thought to originate in the worship of Bat. Also a divine cow goddess, she is known since Neolithic times. She's linked to the region of Seshesh in Upper Egypt, where seshesh means sistrum.
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Bat, often portrayed as a cow surrounded by stars, becomes equated with Hathor. The cosmic or primordial cow is a theme in early creation myths. The cow herself signifies abundance. Bat / Hathor is a goddess of women, the sky (cosmos), fertility and love.
The sistrum is used in dances and religious ceremonies. It's shaken to frighten away Set, god of chaos. It's also prominent in the celebration of Hapi, as the annual Nile floods bring fertile silt, and water gives life to animals and plants.
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Goddess Isis in her role as mother and creator may be shown holding a pail to symbolize the flooding of the Nile, and a sistrum in the other hand. The cat goddess Bast can be portrayed holding a sistrum also, indicating her role as deity of dance, joy and festivity.
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The other main popular type of sistrum used during the worship of Hathor is naos-shaped, named after the hieroglyph naos, a shrine. The sistrum looks like a small temple, with the head of the cow goddess. It may be made of faience.
The sounds created by the percussive instrument and rhythm of the music are aligned for spiritual connection and calling upon deities. Repetition of the sistrum patterns is considered important for ritual healing, and to alter reality or enter a trance state.
Besides Hathor, other deities of music in ancient Egypt include the household protection and dream god Bes, imported from the mystic Land of Punt. Hathor's son Ihy also relates to music. Ihy embodies the ecstasy of playing the sistrum. His name means "sistrum player".
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Sistra are still used in the Alexandrian Rite and Ethiopic Rite. Besides the depiction in Egyptian art with dancing and expressions of joy, the sistrum is also mentioned in Egyptian literature.
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