The sistrum was one of the most sacred musical instruments in ancient Egypt and was believed to hold powerful magical properties. It was used in the worship of the goddess Hathor, Isis, Bastet, mythological character of joy, festivity, fertility, eroticism and dance. It was designed to produce the sound of the breeze hitting and blowing through papyrus reeds.

W instrumentologii sistrum zaliczamy do grupy idiofonów uderzanych. Instrument został przejęty przez Greków i Rzymian z Egiptu wraz z kultem bogini Izydy.