This thesis is based first of all on the fact that the most commonly used instrument in processions, the aulos, belonged to the loudest instrument group in ancient times, the wind instruments.
Research
Song, dance, and rhythmic steps are fundamental parts of ancient processions. It is known from texts and illustrations that musicians accompanied the cultic functionaries and sacrificial animals. The songs that were sung in the processions derived from a fixed canon and consisted of hymns of praise to the gods. Along with its function of praising the gods and unifying the community, music raised the background noise of a procession and made it perceptible over a long distance. This thesis is based first of all on the fact that the most commonly used instrument in processions, the aulos, belonged to the loudest instrument group in ancient times, the wind instruments. In addition, the musicians walked in the front section of the procession. The space traversed by processions is marked by acoustic signals. Alongside the purely optical image that accompanies the passage of the procession, space is marked and thereby claimed by the group’s music. Comparative analysis of illustrations of vases with processional scenes that show musical instruments as well as descriptions of processions in ancient texts will be used.
The dissertation was successfully completed in 2013.