Cymbalum

The cymbalum was the name of two historical instruments, medieval European bells hung and struck with a hammer and Greek kymbalon cymbals. The two instruments may possibly be related, based on the same name being used for both and for the similar "cup-like shape." This relationship in not unique to European bells and cymbals; Persian bells and cymbals share a similar word spread.
The singular cymbalum is a single chime bell, while cymbalum refers to a group of bells.
Chimes, which today are bells and bell sounds derives from cymbala. The term is used for "stationary bells...less extensive than a carillon", such as tubular bells in an orchestra. Chimes is used for groups of bells hung in a "set location", with a "limited range" of tones that are struck. They may be large or small. In simple applications such as on a clock, chimes may be diatonic.
The word cymbalum would be transferred to the harpsichord as the clavicembalo or cembalo. It also became an organ stop.

Medieval bell chimes

Illustrations from about the 10th to 15th century show performers playing sets of bells hung from a frame or overhead and played with a hammer. Images "usually show from four and eight bells", but also as many as 15. They were tuned diatonically to a C-based scale.

Greek cymbals

File:Mildenhall treasure great dish british museum, detail-- dancer with cymbals.jpg|thumb|200px|right|4th century A.D., England. Buried Roman treasure recovered at Mildenhall. Maenad with a pair of kymbalon.
Kymbolon or cymbala were cup shaped cymbals used in Greek and Roman culture to accompany religious "orgiastic" dance. They were played to induce ecstasy and related to the Cybele cult from Asia Minor. As Romans conquered in the east, they brought back musicians, and women could be seen dancing exotically in the streets and in taverns, accompanied by "crotala, cymbala, tympana, and foreign wind instruments."
The Greeks used words for vinegar lids or vinegar containers struck with a stick to connotate a musical instrument. The Romans did the same. Further, the words were used for bells or cymbals that had that bowl shape, worn and played by dancers.
File:Hama museum 4423pc.jpg|thumb|250px|Mosaic of Musicians from Mariamin, last quarter of 4th century AD. Six women perform on instruments, two infants, dressed as Eros, work the bellows for an organ. Apart from the organ there is a pair of krotala, double-flute, kithara, cymbala and oxyvaphi.
In a 4th century mosaic from Mariamin, multiple cymbals or bell-shaped and bell sounding instruments may be seen, which illustrate possibilities for origins. Included in the mosaic are crotala, struck to make them chime. Hand held or finger cymbals are seen in the mosaic as well; and on the table is an instrument that links metal food containers to music.
Roman cymbala had concave centers and turned rims. Although cup shaped, more rarely, the kymbolon might be flat, like a platter.