Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures

Iconographic, textual, and archaeological sources show that music played an essential role withinancient Egyptian civilization throughout all periods. Music was of utmost importance in ritualsand festivals. Different forms of music with multiple functions existed for public or privaterepresentations, profane or sacred, interpreted by male or female musicians acting as professionalsor amateurs. Consequently, from religious celebrations to entertainment, the range of types of musicand musicians was very large.