Tsintsila: Georgia musical instrument

The tsintsila is an old Georgian percussion musical instrument that represents a couple of oval plates with handholds.

source of picture: hangebi.ge

During archeological excavation in a sepulcher, near the territory of castle of Modinakhe, a set of plates were seen with other relics. The sepulcher is traced back to be from 4^th century A.D. the analogous musical instrument were found during excavation near castle of Mtskheta. 4 couple of plates was seen of large and small size there. The diameter of the large plates is about 40 cm but the smaller plates are about 20 cm. by the appearance of the plates, they look like normal plates. They are holed all-around of the body. That plays a good role in distributing the sound. The comparison of the new and old plates showed that the version of the plates tsintsila seen during the excavations in the sepulcher has a better sound and design than the simple plates that is used in the modern orchestra that do not have girdle of sound emitting and holes of sound balancing. The name of the musical instrument is also mentioned in several ancient works of literature, like in Shota Rustaveli’s immortal poems ‘knight in the Panther’s skin”. Distinct rattling musical instruments that are manufactured of steel were also found there: “Lini Ezhvani and also “Diara with jingles”.