Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

EGYPT & THE UNIVERSAL HARMONY

The Pythagoreans explicitly, and the Egyptians implicitly, utilized the harmonic scale as the perfect instrument, for teaching and demonstrating the workings of the cosmos. As discussed earlier, phenomena tend to completion in seven stages, and the seven tones in the harmonic scale, is a perfect example.

Harmonic scales are derived from either geometrical or mathematical proportions which are intimately linked to numbers, set in play by the Primordial Scission. In Egypt, the symbol for Unity, the One, was the open mouth, which is also the shape of a whole musical note.

The harmony of sound, made by the heavenly bodies as they travel their rounds in the sky, is caused by the cosmic rhythms. It is such rhythms which govern the universe and associated vibrations.

The Egyptian belief of universal harmony had ancient roots. As an example, there is a representation from the Middle Kingdom (c. 2133-1633 B.C.) showing a harpist playing a six-stringed harp. Above his head we see six red disks. A contemporary passage on the wall of the tomb refers to the owner having:

danced like the planets of the sky.

The Egyptian complete understanding of universal harmony in an astronomical-musical sense, was confirmed by early Greek and Roman travelers.

• According to Diodorus, Thoth (whom he calls by the Greek name of Hermes) was the first to observe the orderly arrangement of the stars and the harmony of the musical sounds and their nature.
• Athenaens told us that both Greeks and the "barbariansº"learned their music from Egyptian refugees.
• Pythagoras was impressed by Egyptian wisdom and noted that they paid particular attention to the study of music.
• Plato, who was an attentive observer of the social life in Egypt, stated that Egyptians thought that music was beneficial for youth.

Egyptians believed that music was of divine origin, and it is possible that they used the letters of hieroglyphs (which means sacred scripts) as musical notes. Writing was Thoth's domain, and it is not surprising that the hieroglyphs were associated with the teaching of music.

The large number of pictures of musicians in the sculptures and bas-reliefs, as well as the paintings, is clear evidence of the important role that music had, in ancient Egypt.

THE MUSICAL NETEROO-GODS

A netert (goddess) called Merit was considered to be the personification of music, although she never had chapels of her own. She was a chironomist netert, whose major task was to establish cosmic order by means of her song and gestures.

Asar (Osiris) was said to have created a moaulos, a wind instrument which other writers say was particularly popular in Alexandria. Asar was best known as King of the Dead, and was also described as:

laughter-loving and fond of music and the dance.

Het-Heru (Hathor) was the main divine aspect of music and entertainment. Het-Heru, the Golden Netert, was known as the mistress of dance and the mistress of music. Het-Heru was the great provider of spiritual nourishment and healing. She provided joy, lovemaking, music and cheerfulness.

In a hymn to Het-Heru (Hathor), at her temple in Dendara, there is another indication of the intimate relationship between music and the cosmos:

• The sky and its stars make music to you.
• The sun and the moon praise you.
• The neteroo (gods, goddesses) exalt you.
• The ncteroo (gods, goddesses) sing to you.

Some of the neteroo (gods) are depicted playing musical instruments. There are also many representations of musicians, on the walls of temples, playing directly to a neter (god) such as to Ptah, Heru (Horus), Sekhmet, Khons and Wazet.

In ancient Egypt, temples were commonly provided with a complement of musicians and dancers, whose task was to participate in the various daily and seasonal cycles of worship, so as to attune to the universal harmony.