Seshesh

Unknown

1st–2nd century · Leaded bronze. · Musical Instruments

The use of sistrum (or seshesh) was associated with the Egyptian God of Hathor. The shape of the sistrum resembles the symbol ankh meaning life. The instrument was eventually co-opted and used for other Egyptian Gods and was also used in Greece and Rome. Technical description: This fragment of a sistrum consists of a fragment of the hoop and two metal bars. A protrusion on the top of the hoop may have originally represented an animal (as on other similar instruments), but is so heavily corroded that it is impossible to discern.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st–2nd century

Medium

Leaded bronze.

Culture

Roman?

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889