Scheneb

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Scheneb ( ancient Egyptian : šnb ) was the common name in ancient Egypt for straight natural trumpets that were used for military purposes. Two originally preserved specimens come from the grave find of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun (ruled around 1332–1323 BC).

history

The oldest Egyptian representation of a trumpet-like musical instrument is perhaps documented since the Old Kingdom . A relief in the tomb of Kagemni (around 2300 BC) shows a man standing at the bow of a boat, holding a conical object to his mouth. The relief itself, but above all the object, is easily destroyed so that no details can be made out.

The first confirmed illustration of a trumpet comes from the New Kingdom (approx. 1550–1070 BC). In the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut (around 1467–1445 BC) in Deir el-Bahari , a trumpet player appears in a military parade. Comparable representations are documented several times in the following years, whereby the trumpet player is usually accompanied by a drummer. In addition to the military, trumpeters appear in the depiction of the erection of an obelisk and as companions in religious processions.

Today there are only two original Egyptian trumpets left. When the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was discovered, the oldest brass instruments still in existence were found: an approximately 58 cm long natural trumpet made of silver and an approximately 50 cm long trumpet made of sheet bronze , partly gold-plated. The corresponding wooden cores were found along with these musical instruments. The wooden cores are painted in color and were obviously put into the trumpets to protect them when not in use.

Another trumpet was found in the Kushitic temple of al-Musawwarat as-sufra and dates to around 200 BC. Chr.

See also

  • Chazozra , ritually used long trumpet by the Israelites

literature

  • Daniela Billig: The trumpet from the statue temple II C by Musawwarat es Sufra . In: The ancient Sudan. No. 11, 2001, pp. 72-79.
  • Percival R. Kirby : Trumpets of Tut-Ankh-Amen and Their Successors. In: The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume 77, No. 1, 1947, pp. 33-45 ( PDF ).

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