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 trumpet was a military signal instrument used by the ancient Roman military and in religious rituals. They would signal troop movements such as retreating, attacking, or charging, as well as when guards should mount, sleep, or change posts. Thirty-six or thirty-eight tubicines (tuba players; singular tubicen) were assigned to each Roman legion. 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. It was considered a symbol of war and battle. The instrument was used by the Etruscans in their funerary rituals. It continued to be used in ancient Roman funerary practices.

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

• 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

• Template:Harvc
• Template:Harvc
• Template:Harvc
• Template:Harvc
• Translation De re militari
• Template:Harvc