Roman tuba
Illustration — 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 la (plural: tubae), 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.
Roman tuba
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- end-blown straight labrosone.
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- Metal.
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Illustration — 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 la (plural: tubae), 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.
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Overview
The la would be blown twice each spring in military, governmental, or religious functions. This ceremony was known as the tubilustrium. 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 la 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 tubicines or tubatores were well-respected in Roman society. The la 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. • Illustration — Roman tuba found in archaeological site of Roman Villa di San Vincenzino, Italy • Illustration — Reconstructed Roman tuba • Illustration — Musicians playing a Roman tuba, a water organ (hydraulis), and a pair of cornua, detail from the Zliten mosaic, 2nd century AD • Illustration — Roman cornu (left) and tuba (right) in a relief from the Museo Ostiense, Ostia Antica, Italy
Materials recorded for it are Metal.
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Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Cyril Driard. Fabien Pilon. Une trompe romaine (tuba) à Brie-Comte-Robert (Seine-et-Marne) ?. Revue archéologique du Centre de la France. 51. 2012. 271-279. 29 décembre 2025.
- 2.Estelle Baillieux. Bavay : la trompette romaine découverte lors des fouilles, dévoilée au grand public. La voix du Nord consulté. 10 décembre 2022.
- 3.Music from Ancient Rome, Vol. 1. Wind Instruments. AllMusic.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 29
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