τύμπανον

A. kettledrum, such as was used esp. in the worship of the Mother Goddess and Dionysus, Hdt. 4.76, E. HF 892; τυμπάνων ἀλαλαγμοί, ἀράγματα, Id. Cyc. 65 (lyr.), 205; τύμπανα, Ῥέας τε μητρὸς ἐμά θ’ εὑρήματα, says Dionysus, Id. Ba. 59, cf. 156 (lyr.), IG 42(1).131.9, 10 (Epid.); in Corybantic rites, Ar. V. 119; τ. ἀράσσειν, ῥήσσειν, AP 6.217 (Simon.), 7.485 (Diosc.); καταυλήσει χρῆται καὶ τυμπάνοις Sor. 2.29.

2. metaph., τύμπανον φυσᾶν, of inflated eloquence, AP 13.21 (Theodorid.).

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.

3. cudgel, τὰς πολλὰς ἐπὶ τοῦ νώτου διὰ τῶν τ. πληγάς Dam. Isid. 185; so perh. in LXX ll. cc.

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.