Through the Eras

MusicTwo unnamed princesses playing sistrum. BROOKLYN MUSEUM OF ART, 35.2000, GIFT OF THE EGYPT EXPLORATION FUND. REPRODUCED BYPERMISSION.processions. Yet the clappers found in Tutankhamun’stomb were inscribed with the names of women: QueenTiye, Akhenaten’s mother, and Merytaten, his eldestdaughter. These instruments were carved to end in humanhands recalling through their shape the arms andhands that Amarna artists gave to the sun disk.AMARNA PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS. Amarna professionalmusicians included native Egyptian women andmen as well as foreign men. The foreign women playinginstruments in the women’s quarters of the palaceshow them playing privately for themselves. Many representationsof foreign musicians are damaged, however.Since clothing worn especially by Syrian male and femalemusicians was so similar, it may be that some scenesthat do not preserve the head have been misinterpretedas men rather than women. At present it is not possibleto know for certain.FEMALE MUSICIANS. In the Amarna Period, includingTutankhamun’s reign (1352–1322 B.C.E.), femalemusicians played in the same combination ofinstruments often found earlier in the Eighteenth Dynasty(from 1539–1352 B.C.E.). The biggest differenceis that the strings are sometimes doubled in numberduring the Amarna Period. Thus while earlier groupsconsisted of a harp, a lyre, a lute, and an oboe, theAmarna ensembles have two harps, two lutes, and twolyres and sometimes omit the oboe altogether. The detailedreliefs also show a waisted lute (narrowing in themiddle of each side) that anticipates the shape of themodern guitar.MALE MUSICIANS IN THE AMARNA PERIOD.Amarna artists depicted male musicians only duringthe first four years of Akhenaten’s reign in buildingsat Karnak. Neither the tombs nor temples of Amarnaitself depict male musicians. At Karnak the male musicianswear blindfolds while they play. Their heads areshaved and they wear both short kilts and the longer,calf-length kilt. These characteristics connect themwith the priesthood in other time periods, though officiallyAkhenaten himself was the only priest of theAten. Male musicians at Akhenaten’s Karnak templesArts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.) 173