Ritual Instruments at Egyptian Museum Raise Question of Ancient Rattles

Two ritual objects in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo offer a glimpse into the connection between music and religious practice in ancient Egypt.

The pieces are displayed in Upper Hall 13. They are associated with one of the most prominent deities in ancient Egyptian worship, though the available description does not identify the deity by name.

Their presentation raises an intriguing question: did ancient Egyptians use something resembling the familiar rattle? The brief description does not establish how the objects were played or what sounds they produced.

What it does highlight is their ritual role, inviting visitors to consider these instruments not simply as objects for making music, but as part of ancient Egypt’s religious life.