Ancient Roman Musical Instruments

 

"Roman Ivory Aulos found at Pompeii, showing slides and rings." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Aulos

“Roman Ivory Aulos found at Pompeii, showing slides and rings.” — The Encyclopedia Britannica,…

"Beak mouthpiece. Found at Pompeii." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Aulos Mouthpiece

“Beak mouthpiece. Found at Pompeii.” — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

A bagpipe.

Bagpipe

A bagpipe.

"A kind of horn trumpet, anciently made out of a shell, the form of which is exhibited in the two specimens annexed. In the former it is curved for the convenience of the performer with a very wide mouth, to diffuse and increase the sound. In the next, it still retains the original form of the shell. The buccina was distinct from the cornu; but it is often confounded with it. The buccina seems to have been chiefly distinguished by the twisted form of a shell from which it is originally made. In later times it was carved from horn, and perhaps from wood or metal, so as to imitate the shell. The buccina was chiefly used to proclaim the watches of the day and of the night, hence called buccina prima, secunda. It was also blown at funerals, and at festive entertainments both before sitting down to table and after." — Smith, 1873

Buccina

“A kind of horn trumpet, anciently made out of a shell, the form of which is exhibited in the two specimens…

A brass instrument used in the ancient Roman army

Buccina

A brass instrument used in the ancient Roman army

"The <em>buccina</em> is curved for the convenience of the performer, with a very wide mouth, to diffuse and increase the sound." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Curved buccina

“The buccina is curved for the convenience of the performer, with a very wide mouth, to diffuse…

"A copy of an ancient sculpture taken from Blanchini's work, it still retains the original form of the shell." &mdash; Anthon, 1891

Straight buccina

“A copy of an ancient sculpture taken from Blanchini’s work, it still retains the original form of the…

Terra cotta model of Roman bugle, 4th century

Bugle

Terra cotta model of Roman bugle, 4th century

An illustration of a Roman cithara.

Roman Cithara

An illustration of a Roman cithara.

Roman Cornu. Brass instrument used by the Roman Armies to give orders in battle.

Cornu

Roman Cornu. Brass instrument used by the Roman Armies to give orders in battle.

Cornu is a latin word for a horn.

Cornu

Cornu is a latin word for a horn.

"A musical instrument, in the shape of two half globes, which were held one in each hand of the performer, and played by being struck against each other. The cymbal was a very ancient instrument, being used in the worship of Cybele, Bacchus, Juno, and all the earlier deities of the Grecian and Roman mythology. It probably came from the east. for sistrum, which some have regerred to the class of cymbala." &mdash; Smith, 1873.

Cymbalum

“A musical instrument, in the shape of two half globes, which were held one in each hand of the performer,…

Musician playing a double flute

Double flute

Musician playing a double flute

Double flute from a representation found at Herculaneum

Double flute

Double flute from a representation found at Herculaneum

A Lituus, a horn used in Roman religious practice.

Lituus

A Lituus, a horn used in Roman religious practice.

Roman Bacchhante playing castanets

Roman Bacchhante

Roman Bacchhante playing castanets

Triangular form of the harp

Sambuca

Triangular form of the harp

"A harp, was of oriental origin. The performances of sambucistriae were only known to the early Romans as luxuries brought over from Asia." &mdash; Smith, 1873

Sambuca

“A harp, was of oriental origin. The performances of sambucistriae were only known to the early Romans…

"Tintinna'bulum, a bell. Bells were of various forms among the Greeks and Romans, as among us. various specimens of them are given in the annexed cut." &mdash Smith; 1873

Tintinna’bulum

“Tintinna’bulum, a bell. Bells were of various forms among the Greeks and Romans, as among us. various…

"Tuba, a bronze trumpet, distinguished from the cornu by being straight, while the latter was curved. The tuba was employed in war for signals of every description, at the games and public festivals, and also at the last rites to the dead; those who sounded the trumpet at funerals were termed siticines, and used an instrument of a peculiar form. The tones of the tuba are represented as of a harsh and fear-inspiring character." &mdash Smith; 1873

Tuba

“Tuba, a bronze trumpet, distinguished from the cornu by being straight, while the latter was curved.…

A Roman Tuba, a long narrow horn.

Roman Tuba

A Roman Tuba, a long narrow horn.

Tympanum

Tympanum

Tympanum

"Tympanum, a small drum carried in the hand. Of these, some resembled in all respects a modern tambourine with bells. Others presented a flat circular disk on the upper surface and swelled out beneath like a kettle-drum. Both forms are represented in the cuts below. Tympana were covered with the hides of oxen, or of asses; were beaten with a stick, or with the hand, and were much employed in all wild enthusiastic religious rites, especially the orgies of Bacchus and Cybele." &mdash Smith; 1873

Tympanum

“Tympanum, a small drum carried in the hand. Of these, some resembled in all respects a modern tambourine…

(source – no longer available)