This lyre originates approximately from 2500 BCE from the Royal Cemetery of Ur, present-day Iraq, previously known as Mesopotamia. It stands 106cm tall and is a product of intricate craftsmanship from the Early Dynastic III period. The piece is comprised of silver, gold, lapis lazuli, and shell, demonstrating the mastery of material use in this time.
The lyre showcases a hollow sound-box enveloped in silver, extending to the arms of the instrument. The top features a gold bull's head, with lapis lazuli and shell detailing in the eyes and the beard, respectively. This design reflects the symbol of the bull as a signifier of divinity and royalty, indicative of the period's cultural underpinnings, particularly concerning music's role in religious rites and royal events.
The sound-box's front exhibits a panel inlaid with shell plaques in bitumen. The plaques display a 'Banquet Scene' detailing a funeral celebration with sequences read from bottom to top. Illustrated are servants, musicians, animals, and divine entities, all providing valuable information about the societal structures, customs, and myths of the Mesopotamian civilization.
Despite its location in grave pit PG 789, the artifact's preservation is considerable, acting as a testament to the technological skill, including aesthetic sensibilities, of ancient Ur civilization and music's cultural and spiritual relevancy.
