Roman tuba

File:Villa del casale 7.jpg

Mosaic showing the Roman tuba and its size in relation to its player, circa 4th century A.D. Villa Romana del Casale, Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy

The Roman (plural: ), or trumpetTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn was a military signal instrument used by the ancient Roman military and in religious rituals.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn They would signal troop movements such as retreating,Template:Sfn attacking, or charging,Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn as well as when guards should mount, sleep,Template:Sfn or change posts.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Thirty-six or thirty-eight tubicines (tuba players; singular tubicen) were assigned to each Roman legion.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The would be blown twice each spring in military, governmental, or religious functions. This ceremony was known as the . It was also used in ancient Roman triumphs.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn It was considered a symbol of war and battle.Template:Sfn The instrument was used by the Etruscans in their funerary rituals.Template:Sfn It continued to be used in ancient Roman funerary practices.Template:Sfn

Roman were usually straight cylindrical instruments with a bell at the end.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn They were typically made of metals such as silver,Template:Sfn bronze, or lead and measured around 4.33 ft or 1.31 meters.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Their players, known as the or were well-respected in Roman society.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn The was only capable of producing rhythmic sounds on one or two pitches.Template:Sfn Its noise was often described as terrible, raucous, or hoarse.Template:Sfn Ancient writers describe the tuba as invoking fear and terror in those who heard it.Template:Sfn

• Roman tuba found in archaeological site of Roman Villa di San Vincenzino, Italy
  Roman tuba found in archaeological site of Roman Villa di San Vincenzino, Italy
• Reconstructed Roman tuba
  Reconstructed Roman tuba
• Musicians playing a Roman tuba, a water organ (hydraulis), and a pair of cornua, detail from the Zliten mosaic, 2nd century AD
  Musicians playing a Roman tuba, a water organ (hydraulis), and a pair of cornua, detail from the Zliten mosaic, 2nd century AD
• Roman cornu (left) and tuba (right) in a relief from the Museo Ostiense, Ostia Antica, Italy
  Roman cornu (left) and tuba (right) in a relief from the Museo Ostiense, Ostia Antica, Italy

References

Sources

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• Translation De re militari
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