They consisted of two hemispheres of metal, probably of bronze, running off to a point, which was elongated into a bar or handle.

The player grasped a cymbal in each hand, and either clashed theme together horizontally, or else, holding one cupwise in his left, brought the other down upon it perpendicularly with his right.
[PLATE CXXX., Fig.

1.] Two drums are represented on the Assyrian sculptures.
One is a small instrument resembling the _tubbul_, now frequently used by Eastern dancing girls.

The other is of larger size, like the _tubbul_ at top, but descending gradually in the shape of an inverted cone, and terminating almost in a point at bottom.

Both were carried in front, against the stomach of the player--attached, apparently, to his girdle; and both were played in the same way, namely, with the fingers of the open hands on the top.