Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Citharista

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CITHARIS'TA (κιθαριστής). One who plays upon the cithara, or guitar. (Cic. Phil. v. 6.) Homer describes the manner in which the player held this instrument by saying that it was placed upon the arm (ἐπωλένιον κιθαρίζων. Hymn. Merc. 432.), as shown by the annexed wood-cut (Citharista/1.1), representing an Egyptian citharista, from the tombs at Thebes. It affords also a further confirmation that the character ascribed to the cithara in the last article is the correct one, and will likewise serve as an authority for correcting the false reading ὑπολένιον in the same hymn (v. 507.). It was sometimes suspended across the shoulders by a balteus (Apul. Flor. ii. 15. 2. and next wood-cut), and, like the lyre, was occassionally struck with the plectrum, instead of the fingers. Hom. l. c. 498.

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  Citharista/1.1