A.kettledrum, such as was used esp. in the worship of the Mother Goddess and Dionysus, Hdt.4.76, E.HF892; τυμπάνων ἀλαλαγμοί, ἀράγματα, Id.Cyc.65 (lyr.), 205; τύμπανα, Ῥέας τε μητρὸς ἐμά θ᾽ εὑρήματα, says Dionysus, Id.Ba.59, cf. 156 (lyr.), IG42(1).131.9, 10 (Epid.); in Corybantic rites, Ar.V.119; τ. ἀράσσειν, ῥήσσειν, AP6.217 (Simon.), 7.485 (Diosc.); “καταυλήσει χρῆται καὶ τυμπάνοις” Sor.2.29.
II. name of some instrument of torture of execution, Ar. Pl.476 (“ξύλα ἐφ᾽ οἷς [ἐν οἷς” Suid.] ἐτυμπάνιζον: ἐχρῶντο γὰρ ταύτῃ τῇ τιμωρίᾳ: ἢ βάκλα, παρὰ τὸ τύπτειν Sch.); “τινῶν μὲν εἰς δεσμωτήριον, τινῶν δὲ ἐπὶ τύμπανον ἀπαγομένων” S.E.M.2.30; “τοὺς ἐκ τυμπάνου καὶ τοὺς ἀνεσκολοπισμένους” Luc.Cat.6; “ἐπὶ τὸ τ. προσῆγε” LXX 2 Ma.6.19, cf.28; cf. τύπανον.
2. = tumix, sirimpio (dub. sens.), Gloss.
III. in a machine, drum, Hero Bel.86, cf. Orib. 49.4.43; in Verg.G.2.444, tympana are wagon-wheels made of a solid piece of wood, rollers; similarly perh. in PLond.1821.204, possibly of the wheel of an irrigating machine: cf. τυμπάνιον.
IV. Archit., the sunken triangular space enclosed by the cornice of the pediment, Lat. tympanum fastigii, Vitr.4.7.5; the square panel of a door, Id.4.6.4.