Tibia

Tibia, a pipe played by means of a reed mouthpiece, extensively used in classic Rome. The tibia, often mistranslated "flute," was identical with the aulos of the Greeks, and according as it was made with a cylindrical or with a conical bore, it may be regarded as the prototype of our clarinet or oboe. The tibia was used at musical contests, in the theatre, in the arena, at banquets, &c. A set of ivory tibiae ' of cylindrical bore found at Pompeii in a good state of preservation are in the museum at Naples.