Ancient Iraqi harp reproduced by Liverpool engineers

Eureka Alert ^

[nickcarraway]

A team of engineers at the University of Liverpool has helped reproduce an ancient Iraqi harp – the Lyre of Ur Engineers from the University's Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre (LLEC) employed revolutionary laser technology to engrave authentic designs onto Gulf Shell (mother of pearl) – the original material used to decorate the body of the harp.

Dr Carmel Curran, who carried out the work at the LLEC, commented: "This is the first time we have laser processed this type of material and the results are remarkable. It is fantastic to be involved in the recreation of such a piece of history."

"The shells we engraved came from the Indian Ocean. The laser techniques we used to engrave the shell are normally applied to materials such as plastics, metals, fabric and wood."

The Lyre was discovered in a mass suicide grave in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq by British archaeologist, Sir Leonard Woolley. Uncovered in 1929, the remains were kept in a museum in Baghdad until they were destroyed during the recent war in Iraq.

The original gold lyre – nearly 5,000 years old - belonged to the Sumerian Royal family and was found with three other musical instruments alongside 74 bodies in the grave of Queen Puabi, who died around 2,600 BC.

On hearing the lyre had been destroyed, a British harp enthusiast decided to replicate it unique golden lyre so it could be played at harp festivals around the world.

Andy Lowings, project co-ordinator and harp enthusiast, said: "The Lyre of Ur is one of the world's most unique instruments – the remains of only two similar originals found by Sir Leonard still exist but are unplayable. It is fantastic that the harp has been reproduced using original materials and can now be played and enjoyed by music lovers, worldwide."

The Lyre has been played by musicians from across the globe at several high profile events including the Live 8 Eden Project concert and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival.

Volunteers from several organisations teamed up to help recreate the Lyre, which consists of a golden bull's head, cedar wood, lapis lazuli and pink limestone.

[Khurkris]

[Thinkin' Gal]

FYI

[R. Scott]

The Lyre has been played by musicians from across the globe at several high profile events including the Live 8 Eden Project concert and the Edinburgh International Harp Festival.

I wonder what scale it is tuned to. Has anyone figured out what was used in ancient Ur? A 7-note diatonic scale was used in ancient Ugarit, while a 40,000 year old Neanderthal flute used our familiar octatonic and evidence shows that other prehistoric cultures used ditonic, tritonic, and tetratonic scales. From what I have been able to find so far it looks like the harp was tuned to a pentatonic scale – but that was one paper based on a questionable translation of text and a lot of assumptions.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"The Lyre was discovered in a mass suicide grave in the ancient city of Ur in Iraq by British archaeologist, Sir Leonard Woolley. Uncovered in 1929, the remains were kept in a museum in Baghdad until they were destroyed during the recent war in Iraq."

This is B.S. The archaeologist was from the University of Pennsylvania and all of the artifacts from the tomb including the original lyre are on display in a museum in Philadelphia, Pa.

The stuff was on tour about five/six years ago and was at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. for a while. Fantastic stuff.

The author of this article is doing a slam on the U.S.

Regards,

[Moonmad27]

If it's true that the real lyre wasn't destroyed, someone needs to tell that website. I suspect that those people recreated the harp mainly to make an anti-war and especially anti-Bush statement to the music festival crowds that would definitely believe them.

[mware]

Yeap, I recall seeing the harp when I went to visit the University of Pa. museum.

Incidentally it is an outstanding museum to view artifacts. Almost as good as the BM.

[NicknamedBob]

I don't understand why they didn't just pick it up from the prop department.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, Thinkin' Gal.

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[wildbill]

Anyone know about the strings? I'm curious about how they would have made mettalic strings in UR.

[Aliska]

Fascinating bump. It would be nice to hear it played live. Now that they have reproduced the lyre, I wonder how they will learn to play it as it was centuries ago.

[visualops]

LOL you beat me to it!

[Alkhin]

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let all the bookworms of the group know that the last 24 hours for my e-show with Usborne Books started today. The e-show ends at 11:59 am tomorrow, however, the site itself will remain open for any orders. Its just on an e-show that one can recieve special offers. I do intend to have another one in the future, probably at the end of August, so this is not entirely a one-shot across the bow manueuver. Books make wonderful gifts for birthdays and Christmas, or just for that moment when you want to tell someone that you are thinking of them and the things they are passionate about. For the little girl in your life, there is the "Think Pink Think Sparkly, Think Usborne" and for the young man who has been eyeing that awesome telescope in the shop window, several introductory books on astronomy. Think Usborne!

I am posting here, because there are SEVERAL EXCELLENT books and encyclopedias on Archaeology (its even spelled correctly!) available. I am planning to use several of their books for my homeschool curriculum this year.

[zoei_astat]

You might want to know that this group is facing legal action in the UK for using drawings and plans prepared by another group and claiming it as there own. There are BIG ???? about this group. Have you noticed that the above image of the Harp is not really the one they are making? If they publish the real harp they are making they will land into more trouble with the court in the UK.

[SunkenCiv]

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[commish]

I’m Sorry, but that harp was carried by Muhammed when he road his horse to the moon , and as such anyone who attempts to play this sacred muslim harp will be sentenced to death. / s