Mesopotamian+Culture+8000+BCE-600+BCE

Music
Most songs were written to describe important events, although sometimes they were written for gods. Music amused kings; however, they were enjoyed by everyone and anyone who enjoyed singing and dancing. Many songs were passed down from generations orally. This changed however when writing became more common. These songs were passed on to contain important information and historical events.

One small stringed instrument that was used by many Mesopotamians was called the Oud (which is the source of the word ‘lute’). The oldest record of this instrument was back around 5000 years ago in Southern Mesopotamia.

This one instrument appears frequently throughout Mesopotamian history and even leads into Egyptian culture. This Oud would be known as the parent of the European lute, (an instrument with strings with a neck, and a deep round back). The Oud was named after the tree that was used to make it.



Silver Lyre