The Queen’s Lyre of Ur

c. 2500 BC · Sumer

One of the world’s oldest stringed instruments, crowned with a golden bull’s head. The Iraq Museum holds another golden lyre from the same cemetery.

Date

c. 2500 BC

Civilization

Sumer

Found at

Ur

Where it is today

British Museum, London

Related pieces

• 
  c. 2600 BC

  Queen Puabi’s headdress

• 
  c. 2900 BC

  Painted pot from the Royal Cemetery of Ur

• 
  c. 2500 BC

  Cow’s head from the Silver Lyre

• 
  21st century BC

  Ur III cylinder seal

• 
  c. 2600 BC

  Embossed gold leaf with a combat scene

• 
  21st century BC

  Stone plate of the priestess Enmahgalanna

All museum pieces