The legendary King Jamid, the fourth king of the world, is credited with the invention of music.
Ancient Persians had an elaborate musical culture, such as wedding songs, lullabies, love songs, harvest songs, dancing music... Music was combined with singing which was closely related to poetry.
Music played an important role in the imperial court and the religious rituals of the Achaemenids. According to ancient historians, some 329 female mucisians from the imperial court of the Great King were captured by the Macedonians after the battle at Issos.
Even though not much more is known about the music of the ancient Persians, it is likely that a rich oral tradition tied the melodic and rhythmic Persian music throughout the ages. Modern Persian musical instruments are the descendants of the ancient instruments.
It is not hard to imagine the sounds of ancient musical instruments, drums, harps, lutes, lyres, neys and santoors, still echoing across the highlands of Persepolis (Pârsâ), the City of the Persians.
Click on the 17th century C.E. Safavid Persian wall painting below from the Palace of Hasht-Behesht (Eight Paradise) in Esfahan, to hear a modern sample of Persian music...
"Come! But don't join us without music. We have a celebration here. Rise and beat the drums."
Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet was born in Balkh (Bactra) Roxana's birthplace
