One of two specialist books on the subject of ancient musical instruments. Title motif: Kylix (drinking vessel, see my replica) and Apollo with a tortoise lyre. As a counterpart, Orpheus is depicted with such a lyre on a Greek vase (5th century BC). The lyre was originally called Chelys (= tortoise) because of the tortoise shell that was used as a resonator. According to imaginative tradition (including that of Homer), the first lyre was created by Hermes. The transformation of the shell is aptly described by the beautiful quote by Sappho (ca. 630 - 570 BC) "Now raise your voice, you my divine tortoise". She is considered the most important lyric poet of antiquity and is repeatedly depicted by artists with this instrument to this day. More recent findings confirm that the tortoise shell lyre was used as an accompanying instrument to the human voice. [hint: this is an automatic translation from German]   |   Category: Non-fiction books   |   Material: Papier   |   Country of origin: Bavaria, Germany | Similar pieces