Tympanum

Tympanum pl. tympana (Lat.) [Gk. *tympanon], 1. hand *frame drum of ancient Rome, taken over from Greece. In the later days of the empire it became an instr. of the joculators, who were probably responsible for spreading it outside the peninsula. They are sometimes depicted throwing it up in the air and catching it again. Around 600 Isidore of Seville gives a clear description of the single-headed frame drum: “Tympanum est pellis vel corium ligno ex una parte externum. Est enim pars media…