Coptic Museum

Located in Cairo, Egypt, Coptic Museum occupies an area of 8,000m2, buildings and garden included. Ever since the founder initiated the project, the Coptic community has been active in filling it with precious and rare pieces. Members of the community have sent icons, cloths, manuscripts, priestly garments, frescoes, and wooden panels. Painted wooden ceilings and marble fountains were collected from old Coptic palaces.
In addition, the museum has a collection of instruments, one of them a rattle (created between 7th Century AD - 8th Century AD) is used as a child's toy made of wood. It is in three pieces, one of which is large and terminates in two handles. The other two pieces are small; these are attached by means of a cord that passes through a hole in the larger piece.

When the child holds the handles and shakes them, they produce a sound. This type of toy is still used to amuse children in poorer areas. This instrument was used by the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of the mother-goddess Isis. When ancient Egyptian religious customs disappeared, it was no longer used as a symbol of the gods, but the inheritance continues as a popular children's musical instrument that represents the connection between civilizations.

Another instrument is the cylindrical music instrument. This instrument is cylindrical and is composed of two parts, each of which is hollow. It has a short handle, as big as the palm of the hand. In the cavity very small pieces of metal are usually placed; the two parts are fitted together and, when shaken by hand, a rhythmical musical sound is produced.