In the Eastern Nile Delta, a team of Egyptian and international archaeologists has located a cache of blue-glazed faience sistrums (sacred musical rattles) buried beneath a temple annex. The cache includes thirty perfectly preserved instruments used specifically in the worship of Hathor, the goddess of music and joy.
Crucially, the site also yielded rare papyrus fragments detailing the logistical planning for the "Festival of Hathor’s Return," including the recruitment of hundreds of female musicians. This find offers a rare glimpse into the professional organization required to execute the massive religious festivals of the New Kingdom.