Music and Dance Echoes

from Ancient

Μusic and dance had a significant role in ancient Greek society as well as for people in prehistoric times. It was an integral part of is often an emblem on coins. Silver stater of the Amphictyon Union religious and funerary rites, (346 BC, Museum of Coins) sacrifices and processions, it Mythological scene depicting in the centre and the Curetes sounding their accompanied soldiers on the Three Ancient Greek myths echo drums on the sides (Bronze drum from the battlefield (paeans), students in music and dance to the present Ideon Cave in Crete, late 8th century BC, education and people in their Heraklion Archaeological Museum) day. They associate the birth of various aspects of private life: Dancing with marriage, royal feasts, farming Evidence about music and dance o the Curetes, people who nursed activities and daily chores. In comes from figurines, paintings young Zeus on the island of fact, music was considered to be a and reliefs on vases depicting Crete, gift from the and Apollo, musical and dance performances, as o the , caretakers of Zeus and both the gods and ordinary well as the musical instruments in a cave at Mount Ida in people took great pleasure in it. that have been preserved. Crete, Three of the Muses were associated o the , the sea nymphs, with Dance: Urania (muse of who sang, danced and played astronomy), Polyhymnia and music while gliding on the Terpsichore (fun in dance) were waves on dolphins or while considered the protectors of resting on beaches. Dance.

Curetes dancing while young Zeus is nursing on the milk of the goat Clay figurine depicting a female Amalthea. The woman seated to the left figure dancing (mid 4th century is probably or Crete (Marble BC, National Archaeological relief, base part, around 160 AD, Rome Museum of Athens) Museo Capitolino)

Sacrifice scene: Two young musicians, Music class at school : The

one playing a double and the bearded teacher and the student other the . (540-530 BC, Athens are clearly visible each holding a Funerary scene: A woman with her hair Archaeological Museum) lyre. Detail from a red figure loose is in mourning. Detail from red vase (485-480 BC, Berlin) figure vase dating back to the 5th century BC. (National Archaeological

Museum of Athens)

A group of women preparing the

dough for bread to the sounds of

flute playing. Figurines (late 6th century BC, Paris, Louvre Museum) Young women dancing the “virginal” (calyx-shaped red figure crater from

Attica, 5th century BC, National Museum of Rome) Ομάδα γυναικών ζυμώνει υπό τους ήχους αυλών Σύμπλεγμα ου ειδωλίων (ηέλη 6 αι πΧ), Παρίζι,

Μουζείο Λούβρου A group

of women knead the

sounds yard

Bronze regiment of seven dancers from figurines Complex Scene depicting a Symposium from a Phalanx of soldiers marching into Olympia (9th century BC, National red figure vase (515-510 BC, battle to the sound of playing. (late 6th century Archaeological Museum of Athens) Brussels, Museum of Art and History) Scene from a Corinthian vase. (650-640 BC), Paris, Louvre BC, Rome) Museum

Musical Instruments in Songs in ancient Greece were usually accompanied by a . The were not particularly fond of using too many musical instruments in a song because they thought it obscured the human voice. So musical instruments, when not used to perform instrumental music, were used in order to accompany the singer. Ancient musical instruments were divided into three main categories: string, wind and percussion. STRING

Harp or Triangle

Barbitos Lyre cymbals PERCUSSION

Pandura

Crotalum Kroupezion

WIND

Aulos or Flute Diaulos or Double Flute Cymbals Bells

Salpinx or Flute Seistron or Hand Drum