#sistrum

~ Vignette from funerary papyrus (Book of the Dead) from papyrus N 3149.

Period: Ptolemaic Period

Sistrum fragment in the shape of a Hathor head

Egyptian, Late Period, Saite 664–525 B.C.

Many thanks <3

i totally forgot this ask was in my bin rip. Have an info dump about sistra

The sistrum usually comes in two styles: the hathor-headed style (above) and the loop style (below)

The sistrum is heavily associated with Hathor. It's thought that the sistrum may have originated as shaking papyrus flower bundles. This is mimicked a bit in the "sesheshet" name. Hathor is associated with the papyrus and it's shaking (imagine cattle walking through papyri groves).

According to Wilkinson, the sound of the instrument was regarded as protective and the instrument itself was a symbol of divine blessings and embodied the concept of rebirth. In certain circumstances, the sistrum can carry erotic or fertility connotations (also closely related to hathor).

Originally, it was central to Hathor's cult center, specifically with Ihy playing it for her. He says the sistrum entered the cults of other deities, especially those of Amun and Aset. So if you want historical backing to use the sistrum outside of Hathorian/Bast contexts, there is a precedent.

He mentions that it was specifically used by priestesses in antiquity, but i don't think that really matters in the modern era.

imo, the sistrum can be used to call gods, even though Wilkinson doesn't specifically mention it. They seem to come to nice things, things that smell good, taste good, sound good, look good. So why not? Also worth mentioning that it can also be used to pacify gods.

Roman Bronze Sistrum (Ceremonial Rattle), 1st or 2nd Century CE, said to have been found in the River Tiber, Rome, The British Museum, London