Shapes and functions of the bell in Graeco-Roman Egypt

Abstract EN

Bell was known in ancient Egypt since the predynastic period till the Coptic era,made of bronze, terracotta and faience, and took different shapes with various forms of handle and clapper.

The bell's sound and shape had magical, protective, purificatory and apotropaic influence against evil powers.It was found mainly in graves, functioned as an amulet worn by the deceased,or inserted in the mummy wrappings with other amulets for protection,besides some other functions like being used as a musical instrument,pendant worn by domestic and sacrificial animals, and a signal instrument.

Keywords: Bell-Musical Instrument, Idiophone-Percussion, Amulet-Apotropaic, Bronze-Terracotta-Faience - Clapper