sistrum
sistrum, a brazen rattle, Isisrattle (used by the Egyptians, esp. in the festivals of Isis)
Frieze-Dennison Vergil
- a metallic rattle which was used by the Egyptians in celebrating the rites of Isis, and in other lascivious festivals, Ov. Am. 2, 13, 11; id. P. 1, 1, 38; id. M. 9, 692; 9, 777; 9, 783; id. A. A. 3, 635; Mart. 14, 54, 2; Juv. 13, 93; Stat. S. 3, 2, 102; Ap. Met. 2, 28, 13; 11, 6, 3; 11, 10, 7 al.—By the Jews, Vulg. 1 Reg. 18, 6.—Hence sarcastically, as if used for a war-trumpet by the wanton Cleopatra, Verg. A. 8, 696; Prop. 3, 11 (4, 10), 43; Luc. 10, 63; Isid. Orig. 3, 4; 18, 4.
illa domus nescit quid musica consona pulset / nescit ‥ / quid lira, quid cythara, quid fistula, quid tuba, sistrum
tinnula sistra volant oculos pascentia regum, / alternantque manus, sistroque volatile sistrum / surgit in occursum
solis opus cythara, studium lyra Mercuriale, / dulce Pharo sistrum, requies pastoris harundo
in domibus divitum vidi liricines, tybicines ‥ alios cum ~o [gl.: ]cutel, cutel volable
fratrum / aenea vasa, cavis crepitant quis pisula sistris
raucaque clangenti resultant classica sistro
clangenti ~o, sonanti tube,blawendre
†sistin [l. sistrum ],hearnes
~um, tuba
est autem ~um genus tube vel organi, quod utuntur tantum Aegyptii, quod in simulacro Isidis pingitur
trumpete, or lytyl trumpe þat clepyth to me [], te or men togedyre , strutum, -i
delicatissime vestitus, muliebriter emollitus, faciem lavat [miles ]. erectus ad ~um pilos luxuriantes volsella [MS: volsello ] castigat
- , σεῖστρον, a brazen rattle, Isisrattle (used by the Egyptians, esp. in the festivals of Isis): sonitus Sistrorum, O.: iratum, Iu.: Regina patris vocat agmina sistro (sarcastic, of Cleopatra), V., Pr.
SISTRUM(σεῖστρον), a mystical instrument of music, used by the ancient Egyptians in their ceremonies, and especially in the worship of Isis (Ovid, Ov. Met. 9.784; Amor. 2.13, 11, 3.9, 34; de Ponto, 1.1, 38). It was held in the right hand (see woodcut), and shaken, from which circumstance it derived its name (aera repulsa manu, Tibull. 1.3, 24). Its most common form is seen in the right-hand figure of the annexed woodcut, which represents an ancient sistrum (cf. Micali, Mon. ined. tav. xvii.; Plut. de Is. et Osir. pp. 670, 671). Apuleius (Met. xi. pp. 119, 121, ed. Aldi) describes the sistrum as a bronze rattle (aereum crepitaculum), consisting of a narrow plate curved like a sword-belt (balteus), through which passed a few rods, that rendered a loud shrill sound. He says that these instruments were sometimes made of silver or even of gold.
The introduction of the worship of Isis into Italy shortly before the commencement of the Christian era made the Romans familiar with this instrument. The linigeri calvi, sistrataque turba (Mart. 12.29), are most exactly depicted in two paintings found at Portici (Ant. d'Ercolano, vol. ii. pp. 309-320), and containing the two figures of a priest of Isis and a woman kneeling at her altar, which are introduced into the preceding woodcut. The use of the sistrum in Egypt as a military instrument to collect the troops is probably a fiction (Verg. A. 8.696; Propert. 3.11, 43).
Sistrum is sometimes used for a child's rattle (Martial (Mart. 14.54; Pollux, 9.127).
[J.Y](σεῖστρον). A kind of rattle used in the mystical worship of Isis, and borrowed, at the same time with it, from the Egyptians. It consisted of a thin oval band of metal (bronze, silver, or gold) fastened to a handle, and crossed by a number of little metal rods, bent at either end, and loosely inserted in the band. It was held in the hand and shaken (Tibull. i. 3, 24). The same word is sometimes applied to a child's rattle (Mart.xiv. 54; Pollux, ix. 127). See Isis.