TRY IT! Love That Sistrum Sound! by Linda Masternak Justice n ancient Egypt, singing, dancing, and music were associated with the goddess I Hathor. Priestesses in the Old Kingdom used a rattlelike instrument known as a sistrum in rituals and ceremonies honoring Hathor. The sistrum was made of wood or metal bent into a shape resembling the ankh, the symbol of life. Its metal disks, strung on wire, made a soft, rustling sound like the wind blowing through papyrus flowers. To hear the sound of breezes along the Nile, follow the directions on page 13 to make your own sistrum. YOU NEED: corrugated cardboard tape measure scissors tape newspaper white glue water measuring spoon paper cup small paint brush acrylic craft paint clear spray paint wire (thin coat hanger wire works well) wire cutter 12 brass washers (15 minimum) CAL1209_Giza_2-49_v3.indd 12 7/11/12 11:10 AM Love That Sistrum Sound! DIRECTIONS: Measure and cut a strip of corrugated Paint your sistrum. Remember, they 1 cardboard about 1¼ inches by 33 inches. 10 were made of wood or metal. You (NOTE: Be sure the corrugations run can paint a wood-grain pattern with two along the width of the cardboard.) shades of brown. Bring the ends of the strip together Spray with clear paint 2 (with the corrugation on the inside) to 11 for protection. form the shape of the ankh. Use the wire cutter to cut the wire Tape the ends together to make a 12 into three pieces. Each should be 3 handle about 4 inches long. about 2 inches longer than needed to span With the scissors CLOSED, use the end the loop of the sistrum. Bend one end of 4 to CAREFULLY poke three sets of small each piece. holes in the curved part for the wires you Thread each piece through one hole will insert later. 13 in the sistrum. Add the washers. Cut the newspaper Thread the wire through the other end of 5 into thin strips. the sistrum. Bend the wire. In a paper cup, use the measuring If you wish, you can decorate your 6 spoon to mix two parts white glue with 14 sistrum. In Egypt, they were often one part water. decorated with the head of a cow, a symbol Brush this mixture on a small section of of the goddess Hathor. You 7 your sistrum. might make a cow’s head Add a strip of newspaper. Brush more of clay for your sistrum, 8 glue mixture on the newspaper. Cover or simply add a few the entire shape. Poke through the strings of beads. newspaper to keep the wire holes open. Allow to dry. Linda Masternak Justice is a freelance Add at least three more layers of writer in Missouri. 9 newspaper. 13 CAL1209_Giza_2-49_v3.indd 13 7/11/12 11:10 AM.