an ancient kind of castagnetta, or musical instrument, found on medals in the hands of the priests of Cybele. The crotalum differed from the sistrum; though authors frequently confound the two. It consisted of two little brass plates or rods, which were shaken in the hand, and in striking against each other made a noise.

It was sometimes also made of a reed split lengthwise; one part whereof they struck against the other; and as this made a noise somewhat like that of a crane's bill, they called that bird crotalistria, a player on the crotala; and Aristophanes calls a great talker a crotalum.

Clemens Alexandrinus attributes the invention to the Sicilians; and forbids the use thereof to the Christians, because of the indecent motions and gestures that accompany it.