Objekt 23
Musical monkeys in Ancient Egypt
Description
Monkeys were sacred in Ancient Egypt. They were venerated for their vitality and intelligence and there are stone slabs immortalizing them as mythical musicians. This baboon, for example, is playing an aulos, an instrument with two pipes: one for the melody, one for the drone.
Object description
Monkey playing an aulos // Egypt, probably New Kingdom, ca. 1292–1077 B.C. // limestone, residual polychromy // Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig, Inv. BSAe lll 08275.