Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Lyra

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

LYRA (λύρη). A lyre; a small and very ancient stringed instrument, the invention of which is fabulously attributed to Mercury, though it was undoubtedly introduced into Greece through Asia Minor from Egypt. The cords were open on both sides, without any sounding-board, and varied in number from three to nine. It was sounded with both hands, one on each side; or with a quill (plectrum) in one hand and the fingers of the other; being placed upon the knees if the player was in a sitting position, or suspended by a band over the shoulder if erect. The form of the frame would naturally be varied according to the taste or fancy of the maker; but without destroying the leading characteristics of the instrument, as shown by the difference in the two examples annexed (Lyra/1.1), both of which are from sepulchral paintings; the one on the left representing a tetrachord, i. e. with four strings, the other, a hexachord, with six.

• 
  Lyra/1.1