Ancient Egyptians Were Adept Flute and Harp Players

Various ancient Egyptian musical instruments.
Various ancient Egyptian musical instruments.
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Ancient Egyptians Were Adept Flute and Harp Players

Various ancient Egyptian musical instruments.
Various ancient Egyptian musical instruments.

The harp, tambourine and flute were staples in Ancient Egypt’s music culture and are a testament to their pioneering music ingenuity, said Egyptologist Dr. Bassam Al-Shamaa.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The inscriptions inside the royal and private tombs clearly showed that the harp is an Egyptian instrument par excellence, and that the ancient Egyptian were credited for inventing it.”

The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization displays a group of musical instruments that were famous in Ancient Egypt.

On the occasion of World Music Day on June 21, the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir is currently displaying 22 artifacts that showcase the importance of music in Ancient Egypt.

They include a wooden model depicting a musical band performing, which dates back to the times of the Middle Kingdom, and a small vaulted funerary plaque that has a harp player’s inscription on it. On display also are single and double flutes made of reeds, and two pieces of colored leather, which were used as drum covers.

The idea of the musical band originated back in Pharaonic Egypt, which can be confirmed by the drawings and inscriptions on the artifacts on display at the Egyptian museum.



France Bans Smoking in Beaches, in Parks and Bus Shelters

A beachgoer smokes a cigarette on the beach at La Baule on the Atlantic coast, France, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
A beachgoer smokes a cigarette on the beach at La Baule on the Atlantic coast, France, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
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France Bans Smoking in Beaches, in Parks and Bus Shelters

A beachgoer smokes a cigarette on the beach at La Baule on the Atlantic coast, France, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
A beachgoer smokes a cigarette on the beach at La Baule on the Atlantic coast, France, June 25, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

France will ban smoking on beaches and in parks, public gardens and bus shelters from Sunday, the government said.

The decree, published in the official government gazette Saturday, will also ban smoking outside libraries, swimming pools and schools, and is aimed at protecting children from passive smoking.

Health and family minister Catherine Vautrin said in May that tobacco must disappear where there are children.

The freedom to smoke "stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts", she said.

Offenders face a fine of up to €135 ($154), Vautrin added.

The ban will not extend to France's iconic cafe terraces however, the minister said.

Electronic cigarettes, which have boomed in France in recent years, are also not covered.

An estimated 35 percent of France's population are smokers – higher than the averages for Europe (25 percent) and the world (21 percent), according to the World Health Organization.

Around 75,000 people are estimated to die from tobacco-related complications each year in France.