Iran replicates world’s oldest harp

21 Jul 2008

Source: Press TV

Iran has unveiled a replica of the world’s first string instrument crafted after an eight-year research conducted by Iranian experts. 

Crafted from walnut wood, the replica is half the size of the 6000-year-old Iranian harp (Chang).

The instrument will be used to play the Creation Song in Persepolis in 2009 and will then be presented to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

“Ancient seals found by Pinhas Pierre Delougaz and Helene Kantor show that the instrument is the world’s oldest string instrument,” said archeology expert, Seifollah Shokri.

“Historical records also show that the world’s first concert was held in Iran,” he added.

“Details of the research conducted on the instrument and its history will be published in a book by the United Nations,” he concluded.