sistrum

Top part of a sistrum, tsenatsil cast in two parts, body and octagonal, hollow shaft. The two sides of the sistrum are decorated with openwork, interlocking crosses and along their edges; with five pairs of semi circular decorations. Two wires with flattened ends are threaded through the sides of the sistrum and are each threaded with three brass discs which make the instruments distinct sound. The hollow shaft is soldered to the base and has two small holes which would have been used to attach it to a handle. The sides of the sistrum have been crushed inwards and the top decoration is missing.