Fragments of a monumental lyre decorated with lapis lazuli and gold leaf have been recovered from a temple complex in the Nineveh Plains. The instrument's size and the inscriptions found nearby suggest it was the primary centerpiece for the 'Song of Ishtar', a multi-day musical festival celebrating the goddess of love and war during the spring rebirth.
This find provides the first direct evidence of the scale of public musical performance in early Mesopotamian festivals. The discovery of specific tuning pegs indicates a high level of musical complexity used during these sacred celebrations, which drew pilgrims from across the region to witness the 'divine harmonies.'