Wednesday, April 26, 2017

In Ancient Egypt, reference to ululation appears on the inscription of the pyramid texts of Unas, on the West Wall of the Corridor (section XIII),[18] and of Pepi I, in the Spells for Entering the Akhet.[19] In ancient Greece ululation or ololuge was normally used as a joyful expression[20] to celebrate good news[21] or when an animal's throat is cut during sacrifice.[22] However, in Aeschylus' Agamemnon, along with being an expression of joy, it is also used for fury,[21] and in Sophocles' Electra it is employed as an expression of grief.[20] As in many cultures, use depended on context, as ululated exclamations could appear in different circumstances as a cry of lament or as a battle-cry.[23] Homer mentions ololuge (ululation) in his works,[24][25] as does Herodotus, citing ululation in North Africa – where it is still practiced – saying: I think for my part that the loud cries uttered in our sacred rites came also from thence; for the Libyan women are greatly given to such cries and utter them very sweetly.[26] Or in another translation: I also think that the ololuge or cry of praise emitted during the worship of Athena started in Libya, because it is often employed by Libyan women, who do it extremely well.[27][28]


No comments: