163 Prisoners Playing Lyres

Museum Description: Prisoners Playing Lyres

Room: 10/Case: None/Number: WA 124947

Scripture: Psalms 137:2

Here we see an Assyrian leading away captives who are playing on harps, or lyres.  Even the British Museum on their label mention this is reminiscent of the account in Psalms 137, immortalised in the Rastafarian song 'Rivers of Babylon'.  After the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian, however, they were so distressed they could not even play their harps, and so hung them on the trees.

Music is mentioned throughout the Bible from the earliest days in the book of Genesis right through to the end chapters of Revelation.  It has been used both to give praise to God, and also to express emotions from great happiness to deep despair.  The Bible gives little information about the design of musical instruments in Bible times therefore much has depended on archaeological discoveries such as those we can see in the British Museum.  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.