cithara

The cithara is a large ancient Greek string instrument of the lyre family, closely related to the more widely known kithara. In classical sources it is described as a professional instrument, used by skilled musicians in public performances, festivals, and competitions, and is often associated with elite or ceremonial contexts. The Latin term cithara and the Greek term kithara refer to this instrument in different traditions.

Construction and play. The cithara features a wooden resonator or soundbox, a long neck, and a set of gut strings—typically six or seven—that are stretched from the head over a raised bridge to the body. The instrument is plucked with a plectrum, and players usually positioned it with the neck extending to the right or held against the body, while the left hand guided string tension along the neck to alter pitch. The head carries tuning pegs to adjust the strings.

Historical context. The cithara appears in archaic and classical Greek culture and is depicted in vase paintings and described in ancient writings. It was employed in musical performances accompanying songs, dances, and religious or civic occasions, and its use is often contrasted with the simpler lyre played in other contexts. In Roman literature, the term cithara is used to denote the Greek instrument and its cultural associations.

Legacy. Surviving physical remnants are scarce, so most understanding of the cithara comes from literary descriptions and iconography. The instrument influenced later European string instruments through cultural transmission of Greek musical ideas, and its name survives in the Latinized form cithara.