Lyre

mythosGreek Myths: The theft of Apollo's cattle

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Lyre. 11 connected concepts: Lyres of Ur (related to), Music of ancient Greece (related to), Tortoiseshell (related to), Barbiton (related to), String instrument (related to), Kithara (related to), Hornbostel–Sachs (related to), Homeric Hymns (related to), Apollo (related to), Hermes (related to), Theft of Apollo's cattle (related to).

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Community · Lyre

Key points5

Constructed by Hermes using a tortoise shell and cow intestines.
Considered the first stringed instrument in Greek mythology.
Hermes gave the instrument to Apollo as a peace offering.
Became the signature instrument of Apollo.
Symbolizes the reconciliation between the two gods.

Summary

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument invented by Hermes from a tortoise shell, which he traded to Apollo to settle the dispute.

23 words

Connections11

Related toString instrument100%
is the broader instrumental category for the lyre
The lyre belongs to the chordophone family, which encompasses all instruments that produce sound through vibrating strings stretched between two points.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toHornbostel–Sachs100%
defines the classification system for the lyre
This systematic classification scheme categorizes the lyre as a chordophone, providing the technical framework for understanding its acoustic properties and construction.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toHomeric Hymns100%
contains the foundational myth of the lyre's creation
This literary work provides the primary narrative source for the origin of the lyre, detailing how Hermes fashioned it and traded it for Apollo's cattle.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toApollo100%
is the divine patron and primary player of the lyre
Apollo is the god of music and is almost exclusively depicted with a lyre or kithara, symbolizing the instrument's association with order and high art.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toHermes100%
is the mythical inventor of the lyre
In Greek mythology, Hermes is credited with creating the first lyre from a tortoise shell, which he then gifted to Apollo.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toTheft of Apollo's cattle100%
The lyre is the resolution to the theft.
Hermes gives the lyre to Apollo as compensation for the stolen cattle.
Related toLyres of Ur95%
represents the earliest known archaeological evidence of lyres
The discovery of the Lyres of Ur in Mesopotamia provides the earliest physical evidence of the instrument, predating the Greek tradition and suggesting a Near Eastern origin.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toTortoiseshell95%
serves as the traditional material for the lyre's soundbox
According to myth and archaeological evidence, the earliest lyres were constructed using a tortoise shell as the resonator, which defined the instrument's unique acoustic resonance.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toKithara95%
is a professional, concert-grade variant of the lyre
The kithara is a larger, more complex version of the lyre used by professional musicians in Ancient Greece, representing the evolution of the instrument for public performance.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toMusic of ancient Greece90%
is the cultural context for the lyre's development
The lyre was the primary instrument used to accompany the recitation of epic poetry and lyric verse in Ancient Greece, making it central to the development of Western musical theory.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata
Related toBarbiton90%
is a bass-range variant of the lyre
The barbiton was a long-necked, lower-pitched version of the lyre associated with the cult of Dionysus and symposia, showing the instrument's range of regional and social adaptations.
SourcesWikipedia Wikidata Wikipedia Wikidata

Overview

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument characterized by its unique structural design. It is classified within the yoke lute family, a category defined by strings that are attached to a yoke lying in the same plane as the sound table. This yoke consists of two arms connected by a crossbar, providing the frame necessary for the instrument's tension and resonance.

In the field of organology, the lyre is distinguished by this specific configuration of its arms and crossbar. It has served as a foundational instrument in various historical contexts, representing a significant development in the evolution of stringed musical devices.

101 words

SourcesWikipedia

Facts