Sistrum

Artist

Ethiopian (Ethiopian)

Date

Circa 1971

Medium

Brass, wood, steel

Dimensions

Work : 8 3/4 x 3 1/4 x 2 in. (22.23 x 8.25 x 5.08 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Neal and Elizabeth Sobania

Object Number

2018.25.36

Label

Originating in ancient Egypt, a sistrum is a percussion instrument used in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church to establish a cadence for liturgical chants and dances. It typically has a U-shaped metal frame with horizontal crossbars and metal rings that create clanking or jangling sounds when shaken. Many of the religious songs and dances in which sistra are used today are credited to the 6th-century priest and musician Saint Yared.