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Michael Levy: Photo Gallery

BIBLICAL LYRES (IN HEBREW, THE "KINNOR" AND "NEVEL") AS DEPICTED ON ANCIENT JEWISH COINS

Earliest illustrations on ancient Jewish coins, of what MAY be the 2 Biblical Lyres, (Kinnor & Nevel), as seen on ancient Jewish coins from Acco, Israel c.125BCE
Illustration of what MIGHT be the elusive Biblical Nevel - possibly a skin membrane lyre, similar to the ancient Greek Lyra? The image seems to show the reverse of the lyre (similar to the earlier lyre seen on the Acco coins, c.125BCE)
When viewed from the reverse, my replica Nevel looks similar to the 2nd type of lyre depicted on the Simon Bar Kochba coins (although the original Nevel would have had a resonator)
My replica Nevel (front view), as made by Mid East Ethnic Instruments. The original Nevel would have had a resonator & 12 strings, instead of the 15 strings of this model.
Ancient Greek Lyra (skin membrane lyre with tortoise shell resonator) - could the Biblical Nevel also have been a skin-membrane lyre? As there is evidence it may have been a bass register lyre, it could have been similar to the ancient Greek Barbitos.
The ancient Greek Barbitos - the bass version of the ancient Greek Lyra (skin membrane lyre wih tortoise shell resonator)
Illustration of what MAY be the Biblical Kinnor, on an ancient Jewish coin from the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Romans, c.134CE. Note the striking similarilty to the elogated lyre depicted on the earlier Acco coins from c.125BCE.
When viewed from the reverse, my replica Kinnor looks exactly like the elongated lyre depicted on the Simon Bar Kockba coins! The vertical line donw the centre of the lyres depicted on the coins could be a strap by which the lyre was held?
Another image of what may be the Biblical Kinnor on a Bar Kochba coin...these coins seem to depict the reverse of the lyre (the line in the middle of the lyre to me, seems to depict a strap with which the Kinnor was held)
My own replica Biblical Kinnor (front view), as featured in my Lyre Albums - made by Mid East Ethnic Instruments (with the replica Simon Bar Kochba coins I attached to the top of the 2 arms...for that authentic feel!)

THE TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM - WHERE MY LEVITE ANCESTORS PLAYED THEIR KINNORS & NEVELS TO ACCOMPANY THE SINGING OF THE LEVITICAL CHOIR

Levites playing their Lyres in the Temple of Jerusalem...
The First Temple of Jerusalem
The Second Temple of Jerusalem
The Second Temple of Jerusalem
Levites playing their Kinnors in the Courtyard of the Temple of Jerusalem...
The Second Temple of Jerusalem...
The Inner Sancturary of the Second Temple of Jerusalem
The Ark of the Covenant...

LYRES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

The Silver Lyre of Ur, c.2600BCE
The Golden Lyre of Ur, c.2600BCE
Early vertically held large lyres & dancers - rock etchings from Negev, Israel c.2000BCE. These lyres seem to be transitional versions of the large Temple Lyres found at Ur. The lyre is still not truely portable yet...
Details of the early vertically held lyres seens in the Negev rock etchings (p.74, Joachim Braun, "Music in Ancient Israel/Palestine")
ANCESTORS OF THE HEBREWS IN ANCIENT EGYPT? Dating from c.1900BCE, this is the famous Mural from the tomb of Khnumhotep II, known from his tomb at Beni Hasan.
Canaanite Lyre Player - from the Beni Hasan Mural in Egypt, c.1900BCE.The lyre had now become portable - the perfect adaptation to the nomadic lifestyle of these possible ancestors of the ancient Hebrews
Canaanite Lyre Player - the Meggido Ivory, c.1700BCE
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