Ancient Musical Instruments

By Sherri BohneMusic 1010

Hollow bones, First musical instrument

Animal horns made practical instruments

Music accompanied comedies and pantomimes in Greece

The Water Organ or Hydraulis is the first known keyboard

Lyre is oldest string instrument, in Greek mythology invented by Hermes

Kithara used for entertainment for both Greeks and Romans, similar to guitar

Aulos, a wind instrument, played simultaneously (hard to master!)

Pan, God of the forest, played Pan Pipes to pick up girls, in Greek mythology

Littus, a variant of the tuba, used for both music and to scare the enemy in Celtic war

Conch shell, a natural trumpet, used for prayers for rain and fertility

Bullroarer, known on every continent, used to signify the presence of spirits

Idiophones, shaken or scraped, popular in many countries like Africa

Early drums made from animal skins used to send signals as well as for music

Music in ancient Greece was tied up in their mythology

Music was omnipresent at the first Olympic Games

Instruments we play today had roots in Greece, we have them to thank for our orchestras and bands