classical antiquity Classical antiquity (also the classical era, classical period or classical age) is the period of cultural history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD centred on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ...

, a crotalum ( κρόταλον ''krotalon'') was a kind of clapper or castanet used in religious dances by groups in

ancient Greece Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of Classical Antiquity, classical antiquity ( AD 600), th ...

and elsewhere, including the Korybantes. The term has been erroneously supposed by some writers to be the same as the sistrum. These mistakes are refuted at length by Friedrich Adolph Lampe (1683–1729) in ''De cymbalis veterum''. From the '' Suda'' and the

Scholiast Scholia (singular scholium or scholion, from grc, σχόλιον, "comment, interpretation") are grammatical, critical, or explanatory comments – original or copied from prior commentaries – which are inserted in the margin of t ...

Aristophanes Aristophanes (; grc, Ἀριστοφάνης, ; c. 446 – c. 386 BC), son of Philippus, of the deme Kydathenaion ( la, Cydathenaeum), was a comic playwright or comedy-writer of ancient Athens and a poet of Old Attic Comedy. Eleven of his for ...

(''Nubes'', 260), it appears to have been a split reed or cane, which clattered when shaken with the hand. According to Eustathius (''Il.'' XI.160), it was made of shell and brass, as well as wood.

Clement of Alexandria Titus Flavius Clemens, also known as Clement of Alexandria ( grc , Κλήμης ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς; – ), was a Christian theologian and philosopher who taught at the Catechetical School of Alexandria. Among his pupils were Origen an ...

attributes the instruments invention to the

Sicilians Sicilians or the Sicilian people are a Romance speaking people who are indigenous to the island of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the largest and most populous of the autonomous regions of Italy. Origin and i ...

, and forbids the use thereof to the

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...

, because of the motions and gestures accompanying the practice. Women who played on the crotalum were termed ''crotalistriae''. Such was Virgil's Copa (2), :''Crispum sub crotalo docta movere latus.'' This line alludes to the dance with crotala (similar to castanets), for which we have the additional testimony of Macrobius (''Saturnalia'' III.14.4‑8). As the instrument made a noise somewhat like that of a crane's bill, the bird was called ''crotalistria'', "player on crotala".

Pausanias Pausanias ( el, Παυσανίας) may refer to: *Pausanias of Athens, lover of the poet Agathon and a character in Plato's ''Symposium'' *Pausanias the Regent, Spartan general and regent of the 5th century BC * Pausanias of Sicily, physician of t ...

affirms by way of the epic poet Pisander of Camirus that

Heracles Heracles ( ; grc-gre, Ἡρακλῆς, , glory/fame of Hera), born Alcaeus (, ''Alkaios'') or Alcides (, ''Alkeidēs''), was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.By his adoptiv ...

did not kill the birds of

Lake Stymphalia Lake Stymphalia (Greek: Λίμνη Στυμφαλία - ''Límnē Stymphalía'') is located in the north-eastern part of the Peloponnese, in Corinthia, southern Greece. It is a closed karst basin with a wetland area and an agrarian area. The lak ...

, but that he drove them away by playing on crotala. Based on this, the instrument must be exceedingly ancient. Wilkinson, John Gardner (1878).
The Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians
'. Vol 1. London: John Murray. p. 494. The word ''krotalon'' is often applied, by an easy metaphor, to a noisy talkative person (Aristoph. ''Nub.'' 448; Eurip. ''Cycl.'' 104).

References

{{Greek musical instruments Ancient Greek musical instruments Ancient Roman culture Greek musical instruments European percussion instruments