Music in the Ancient Near East

Archaeological, Historical, and Societal Considerations
An interdisciplinary exploration of music in the ancient Near East, this volume examines instruments, performance, and cultural exchange across Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant through archaeology, texts, and iconography, highlighting music’s roles in society, ritual, gender, and mobility.

Music in the Ancient Near East brings together a series of innovative studies exploring musical practices across Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, and beyond. Moving beyond general introductions, this volume presents a rich, interdisciplinary “melange” of archaeological finds, textual evidence, iconography, and experimental approaches to reconstruct the sounds, meanings, and social roles of music in antiquity.

Developed through an unusually collaborative and dialogic process, the contributions examine themes including gender, sexuality, disability, ritual, and cultural exchange. From travelling musicians and shared instrument traditions to new discoveries such as an Iron Age bone whistle, the volume highlights the interconnected musical landscape of the ancient Near East and the dynamic role of music in everyday and sacred life.

Contributor: Heidi Köpp-Junk (Edited by), Shane M. Thompson (Edited by)

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