ANCIENT GREEK LYRE (7CHORDED)

HISTORY OF THE LYRE  The most important instrument in the far antiquity, the lyre, was the national musical instrument of the Greeks and integral part in the education of youth. It was strongly connected with the worship of Apollo and for this reason it was greatly respected. It accompanied songs and dances and it was used at wedding ceremonies and symposiums. The lyre in its original archaic form had a sound box that was made of a turtle shell that was surrounded by ox skin and two arms made from the horns of a wild goat. The strings, which were made of animal intestines, varied in number. Originally they were three but by the 8th century BC, became seven and then they increased up to twelve. Great melodists who used lyre in ancient Greece were Orpheus, Linus, Terpander and many others.