The “salpinx” (trumpet)

It was a wind instrument which due to its exceptional sonority was usually used for giving signals to a large crowd or at a distance (up to ten kilometres). It was particularly suitable for giving the starting signals in athletic competitions, signals for co-ordination in teamwork and military commands. More seldom, they were used for ritual and clearly musical purposes.
The Greek salpinx (trumpet), known since the years of Homer, consisted of a long, straight tube of narrow, cylindrical bore (roughly 90 cm) that ended in a prominent tulip-shaped bell. It was
usually copper with a bone or metal mouthpiece.
The Anatolian salpinx (trumpet) consisted of a simple pipe of conical form.The trumpeter usually wore a strap “phorbeia” and applied his mouth on the mouthpiece. The sound was produced with a direct blow into the mouthpiece and a suitable lip technique. The produced sound was acute metallic and penetrating. Different sound production was possible for the different commands that were to be transmitted.