Window into the Bible
String Instruments
Stringed instruments were often used in conjunction with other instruments for worship. A good example of this is when David has the ark bought up to Jerusalem. The occasion is celebrated 'accompanied by musical instruments; lyres, harps and cymbals.' (1 Chronicles 15:16)
Scroll down the page for further information about each image. Click on each image to bring up a full sized picture (some of the images on this page are cropped). You can right click on each image and save using 'save background as'.
Bull Headed Lyre (restored)
Date: 2600 - 2000 BC.
Place: Tomb 789 at Ur (Iraq).
Photographed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Silver 'Boat-shaped' Lyre
Date: 2600 - 2000 BC
Place: Royal Cemetery at Ur (Iraq).
Photographed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Silver Lyre (restored)
Date: 2500 BC
Place: The 'Great death pit' at the Royal Cemetery of Ur (Iraq)
Photographed at the British Museum, London, England.
Royal Harp (reconstructed)
Date: 2600 - 2000 BC
Place: The 'Great pit' at the Royal Cemetery of Ur (Iraq)
Photographed at the British Museum, London, England.
Ivory Lyre
Date: 14th to 13th century BC.
Place: Menidi Tholos tomb, near Athens, Greece.
A pair of sphinxes decorate the sound box at the bottom.
Photographed at the National Archeological Museum of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Bronze Lyre
Date: 3rd to 2nd century BC.
Place: Antikythera Shipwreck
Photographed at the National Archeological Museum of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Lyre
Date: around 1450 BC
Place: Cemetery west of Gournet Mourai [Luxor] Egypt.
Made from Tamarisk wood.
Photographed at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
Triangular Harp
Date: 1069 - 332 BC
Place: Egypt
This harp is made from pine and cedar with modern strings.
Photographed at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
1 Kings 10:12 describes harps and lyres made from almugwood. It is uncertain what this wood is - possibly Juniper or Sandalwood.
Harps
Date: 1550 - 1295 BC
Place: Egypt
Photographed at the Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
The Bible tells us of David's skill in playing the harp:
|
"Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him". (1 Samuel 16:23) |
Restored Lyre
Date: 5th or 4th Century BC
Place: Possibly Athens, Greece.
Photographed at the British Museum, London, England.
Arched Wooden Harp
Date: unknown
Place: Thebes, Egypt
Photographed at the British Museum, London, England.