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A sistrum is an ancient Egyptian women's ritual instrument, resembling a tambourine with a handle. The typical sistrum is haped like an ankh, consists of a handle topped with a metal or wooden loop containing wires strung with metal plates that jingled when shaken.

The sistrum was used primarily in the worship of the Goddesses Isis, Hathor, and Bast. According to the historian Plutarch, the noise of the sistrum was used to keep Typhon, the god of chaos, at bay through its constant movement. The sistrum is still used today by practitioners of the Kemetic faith.

The Goddess Isis with sistrum

Related Resources:

• Dictionary of Symbols
  More entries like this one- hundreds of religious and cultural symbols illustrated and defined.
• Kemet
  The beliefs and practices of Kemet, a modern revival of ancient Egyptian religious practices.
• Neopaganism
  There are many flavors of Neopagan faiths, from faithful reconstructions of ancient religions, to witchcraft traditions and Goddess worship.