Tympanum (music)
Cybele statuette with tympanum. Roman, 2nd century
In ancient Greece and also in ancient Rome, the tympanum was a circular, double-headed frame drum . It was drummed with the right hand and mostly used by women in the Dionysus cult. In ancient Greek Bible texts tympanon and in Latin texts tympanum the translation of the frame drum mentioned in the Hebrew Bible is tof .
The tympanum also played an important role in the Cybele cult , which originally came from Phrygia but was later spread throughout the Roman Empire . On statuettes and pictures, either the goddess herself or her entourage with this instrument is shown. It is mainly transmitted from small figures that are shown in typical playing positions.
The tambourine , which is only stretched on one side, is related to the tympanum .
Web links
Wiktionary: Tympanum - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Individual evidence
- ^ Helmut Brand: Ancient Greek musical instruments. A brief overview.
- ↑ List of almost all Greek instruments, including a short description of the tympanum ( Memento from April 9, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Ingrid R. Metzger: The Thesmophorion of Eretria: Finds and findings of a sanctuary. (Eretria. Excavations and research VII) Francke, Bern 1985, p. 24. ISBN 3772015905
- ↑ picture with explanation