Two examples from the oldest certifications of Greek epic show the possible influence on early Greek music of old-oriental traditions.
Homer’s [8th century B.C.] Greek death ritual [Iliad XXII 405-XXIII 897; XXIV 697-804; Odyssey XXIV] points out parallels to the Hittite cuneiform script texts and in this context testify to the occurrence of professional musicians, the mourning of the relatives, the burning of corpse, the extinguishing of the fire with wine and beer as well as the ossilegium.
Also the Linos Song [Iliad XVIII 569- 572] speaks for oriental influences on Greek music culture: Already in the 7th century B.C. Hesiod and Sappho discovered a connection between Linos, Adonis, Alijon Baal and Dumuzi / Tammuz. For the time of Homer the dissemination of these eastern cults cannot be determined accurately; possibly appropriate ritual practices were already known in the 8th century B.C. in Homer’s Asian homeland. The switching of old-eastern traditions to Ionia may have taken place in the 2nd or 1st century B.C. The Luwians (and the Phrygians?) played a key role. [http://www.vml.de/e/inhalt.php?ISBN=978-3-89646-640-2]