Blog | Angelic Melody

The History of the Harp

The harp is one of the oldest known musical instruments in the world. Its history stretches back thousands of years, with early forms appearing in ancient civilizations long before the development of the modern concert harp.

The Ancient Harp

The earliest harps are believed to have developed from simple stringed instruments, possibly related to the musical bow. Archaeological evidence shows that harp-like instruments existed in Mesopotamia and the Aegean world several thousand years ago.

Ancient Egypt is particularly well known for its use of the harp. Harps were already being depicted in Egyptian tombs by around 2500 BC, and they became an important part of Egyptian music.

Egyptian harps came in several shapes and sizes. Unlike modern European harps, many ancient Egyptian harps did not have a front pillar supporting the neck. Their strings were made from natural materials, and the instruments were played by plucking the strings with the fingers.

Harps were used in a variety of settings, including banquets, festivals, funerals and religious ceremonies.

One surviving piece of the Egyptian harp in the Metropolitan Museum of Art dates from approximately 1580–1295 BC, showing just how old the tradition of harp-making and harp-playing is.

Ancient Egyptian tomb painting of a woman playing a large standing harp — A wall painting from an ancient Egyptian tomb, showing a harpist at a large standing harp.

A surviving ancient wooden harp, with its arched frame and tuning pegs — A surviving ancient harp, its wooden frame and tuning pegs still intact.

The Harp in the Ancient World

The harp was also present in the ancient Greek world. Ancient Greek musicians used several types of stringed instruments, including instruments related to the harp and lyre families. The lyre, in particular, was an important part of Greek music and culture.

The connection between stringed instruments and Greek mythology is especially well known. Apollo, the Greek god associated with music and the arts, is traditionally depicted with a lyre. The legendary musician Orpheus was also said to have possessed extraordinary musical abilities, with his playing being powerful enough to influence people, animals and even nature itself.

A woman playing an arched harp, painted on an ancient Greek vase — A woman playing an arched harp, depicted on an ancient Greek vase.

Marble statue of Apollo holding a lyre — Apollo, the Greek god of music, traditionally shown holding a lyre.

The Harp Today

Modern concert harps typically have 47 strings and seven pedals and are used in orchestras, chamber music and solo performances. Smaller lever harps are also widely used in folk, Celtic and contemporary music.

Today, the harp can be heard in concert halls as well as at weddings, celebrations, hotels and private events.

From the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia, through the musical traditions of the ancient Greek world and medieval Europe, to the modern concert harp, the instrument has undergone thousands of years of development while retaining its defining characteristic: music created through the sound of plucked strings.