Rattles such as this were usually made of bronze, but sometimes of silver. They were used in religious ceremonies and rituals, and were particularly associated with the worship of Egyptian goddess Isis. 

Temples to Isis were built in every major city, perhaps the largest and most richly decorated being in Rome, near the Pantheon. The best-preserved temple of Isis was found in Pompeii, where the sacrifices and the priests' meals were found in situ when it was excavated. The temples were decorated with beautiful wall paintings, some of which show priests or attendants of Isis holding a sistrum.

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