Sounds from the Divine: Religious Musical Instruments in the Ancient Near East

Music is an indispensable part of religious acts in most, if not all, known cultures of the ancient as well as the modern world. Musical sounds — whether created by human voice or instruments — occupy the integral function of a communication medium. As for general religious beliefs, communication through music was not restricted to human society but could also cross barriers to reach transcendental spheres. Music is a language understood by all beings, gods as well as demons and other creatures of intermediate worlds. Besides its function as a conveyer of information like regular speech, music also has a psychological value, as it is able to affect deepest moods and emotions. By using this tool in communicating with the divine, mankind increases its abilities to influence transcendental beings.