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cymbălum , i, n. (
I.gen. plur. cymbalum, Cat. 63, 21), = κύμβαλον, a cymbal.
I. Prop., an instrument consisting of two hollow plates of brass, which emit a ringing sound when struck together. They were used in the festivals of Cybele and Bacchus, and on other festive occasions; also to hinder the flight of bees, etc. (usu. in plur.), Lucr. 2, 619; Cat. 63, 21; 63, 29; Ov. F. 4, 213; Verg. G. 4, 64; Liv. 39, 8; Cic. Pis. 9, 20 sq.; Plin. 5, 1, 1, § 7; Quint. 11, 3, 59; Plin. Ep. 2, 14, 13.—
B. Transf., in hydraulics, a sounding basin of similar form, a bell, Vitr. 10, 8, 5.—
II. Trop.: Apion Grammaticus, hic quem Tiberius Caesar cymbalum mundi vocabat, i. e. as making the world ring with his ostentatious disputations, Plin. H. N. praef. § 25; cf. Verg. Cat. 7, 5 Wagn.; App. Orth. § 8 p. 129 Mai.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (9 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (9):
    • Cicero, Against Piso, 9.20
    • Vergil, Georgics, 4.64
    • Vitruvius, On Architecture, 10.8.5
    • Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, 2.619
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 5.7
    • Pliny the Younger, Epistulae, 2.14.13
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 39, 8
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 11, 3.59
    • Ovid, Fasti, 4
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