Why Ancient Egyptians believed music and dance were essential to maintaining cosmic order
In short: Music and dance were not merely pastimes in Ancient Egypt; they were sacred tools for communication with the divine. This video explores how these arts functioned as both a source of everyday joy and a vital mechanism for establishing order within the cosmos.
In the Egyptian worldview, music and dance held an intrinsic link to the divine. The goddess Meret, an early figure in the creation story, was specifically associated with singing and dancing as a means to establish order. Later, the goddess Hathor became the primary deity linked to music, with her dancers frequently depicted in surviving inscriptions and imagery.
By the New Kingdom period, spanning approximately 1570 to 1069 BCE, these arts were deeply embedded in Egyptian life. Beyond religious rituals—where interpretive dance helped participants achieve a closer connection to their deities—music and dance served as a universal expression of joy and entertainment across all levels of society.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ancient Egyptian Dance and Music
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