SISTRUM, or CISTRUM, a kind of ancient musical instrument, used by the priests of Isis and Osiris. It is described by Spon as of an oval form, in manner of a racket, with three sticks traversing it breadth-wise; which playing freely by the agitation of the whole instrument, yielded a kind of sound which to them seemed melodious. Mr Malcolm takes the sistrum to be no better than a kind of rattle. Oiselius observes, that the sistrum is found represented on several medals and on talismans.