“Psalteries, Citharas, and Symphony: The Musical Instruments of Daniel 3 and the Authenticity of the Book

Los Instrumentos Musicales de Daniel 3 y la Autenticidad del Libro de Daniel

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17162/x263e476

Keywords:

Daniel 3, Musical Instruments, Mesopotamia, Greece, Neo-Babylonian Period

Abstract

The description of musical instruments in terms of Greek origin (zither, psaltery, and symphony) has led numerous theologians to consider that the composition of the book of Daniel took place in the first century B.C. Nevertheless, it is plausible that such instruments were part of Nebuchadnezzar's orchestra, that is, in Babylon, in the sixth century B.C.? This study seeks to demonstrate, through the analysis of historical and archaeological aspects, that it is posible that similar instruments existed in Babylon at that time. First, because there is the possibility that commercial relations existed between Mesopotamia and Greece. Second, because the use of music and musical instruments identical or similar to those mentioned in Daniel 3 in Mesopotamia dates back to its earliest periods.

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Author Biographies

  • Bruno Alves Barros, Eötvös Loránd University

    Candidato a doctorado en Historia Antigua (Asiriología) en la Universidad Eötvös Loránd, Hungría. Tiene una maestría en Religión (Arqueología e Historia Antigua) por la Universidad Andrews (EE. UU.), una licenciatura en Historia y Geografía por el Centro Universitario Internacional y una licenciatura en Teología por el Centro Universitario Adventista de São Paulo. Ha participado en excavaciones arqueológicas en Israel y Jordania.

  • Eloá Moura Galvão, Universidad Adventista del Plata

    Candidata a doctorado en Antiguo Testamento por la Universidad Adventista del Plata (Argentina). Es licenciada en Teología por la UNIAENE - Centro Universitario Adventista de Educación del Nordeste - Canchoeira, Bahía (2016), tiene un posgrado en Interpretación Bíblica por la UNASP - Universidad Adventista de São Paulo (2021), una maestría intracorpus en Interpretación Bíblica por la UNASP - Universidad Adventista de São Paulo (2021) y un posgrado en Historia y Arqueología del Antiguo Cercano Oriente por la UNASP - Universidad Adventista de São Paulo (2021). Su investigación y trabajo académico se centran en los siguientes temas: teología, religión, escatología, textos culturales, lenguaje y construcción de significado, y arqueología bíblica.

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Published

2025-12-26

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 2 (2025): Revista Theologika

Section

Artículos

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Copyright (c) 2025 Bruno A. Barros, Eloá M. Galvão

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