page_title: Cithara
hierarchical_section_title: Cithara
caption_attribution_description: English: LYCIAN LEAGUE. Cragus. Ca. 32-30 BC. AR hemidrachm. Series 4. Reverse. ΛΥΚΙΩΝ, K-P/Α-Γ, cithara (lyre); all within incuse square. Troxell 102.
context_page_description: The cithara or kithara was an ancient Greek musical instrument in the yoke lutes family. In modern Greek the word kithara has come to mean "guitar", a word which etymologically stems from kithara.
  The kithara was a seven-stringed professional version of the four-stringed lyre, which was regarded as a rustic, or folk instrument. As opposed to the simpler lyre, the kithara was primarily used by professional musicians, called kitharodes. The kithara's origins are likely Anatolian. The barbiton was a bass version of the kithara popular in the eastern Aegean and ancient Anatolia.
context_section_description: The cithara or kithara (Greek: κιθάρα, romanized: kithāra, Latin: cithara) was an ancient Greek musical instrument in the yoke lutes family. In modern Greek the word kithara has come to mean "guitar", a word which etymologically stems from kithara.  
  The kithara was a seven-stringed professional version of the four-stringed lyre, which was regarded as a rustic, or folk instrument. As opposed to the simpler lyre, the kithara was primarily used by professional musicians, called kitharodes. The kithara's origins are likely Anatolian. The barbiton was a bass version of the kithara popular in the eastern Aegean and ancient Anatolia.
caption: Cithara on the reverse of a hemidrachm from Cragus (Lycian league).
exif: {}