Ebani
Ebani is an ancient Georgian musical instrument with strings dating back to pagan times. According to Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, ebani was considered a percussion instrument in the 17th century. The name “ebani” first appeared in the Georgian edition of Dabadeba (Birth). I. Javakhishvili considered ebani, changi and lyre to be the same instrument. The old Georgian ebani had 6–13 (mostly 6) strings and was mainly tuned to two notes (three strings on each note). The term is related to “bani”. I. Javakhishvili considered the sound and semantic similarity of ebani and “bani” to be natural, since “bani” generally denotes accompaniment. The prototype of the instrument referred to by the term “ebani” (harp) exists among various peoples of the world, and in Georgia a fairly developed form of this instrument is known from archaeological material of the 6th century BC (Kazbegi Treasure, Uplistsikhe). The term “ebani” is often mentioned in ancient literary sources (Rustaveli, Shavteli, Chakhrukhadze, Basil the Treasurer, D. Guramishvili and others).
Literature: შილაკაძე მ., მუსიკალური ტერმინი „ებანი", «ლოგოსი», II, თბ., 2004; ჩხიკვაძე გ., სამუსიკო საკრავი ებანი და მისი რაობა, «მასალები საქართველოს ეთნოგრაფიისათვის», 1955, ტ. 7; ჯავახიშვილი ივ., ქართული მუსიკის ისტორიის ძირითადი საკითხები, თბ., 1938.
S. Zhordania
M. Shilakadze
