Rattles of different kinds are found among the musical instruments of Egypt; and one of them consists of a box with a long handle attached to it.

The jingling noise produced by such instruments may have corresponded to the sound now emitted by the side-rings of the tambourine.
Another curious-looking instrument occurs in a processional scene of the time of Asshur-bani-pal, which has been compared to the modern _santour_, a sort of dulcimer.

It consisted (apparently) of a number of strings, certainly not fewer than ten stretched over a hollow case or sounding-board.

The musician seems to have struck the strings with a small bar or hammer held in his right hand, while at the same time he made some use of his left hand in pressing them so as to produce the right note.

It is clear that this instrument must have been suspended round the neck, though the Assyrian artist has omitted to represent the belt which kept it in place.