phorminx

Phorminx is an ancient Greek stringed musical instrument, an early form of the lyre. It appears in classical texts as a portable, plucked instrument used to accompany poetry and song. Compared with the later kithara, the phorminx was generally smaller and more suited to indoor performance and solo recitation, though designs varied over time.

Construction and playing: A phorminx typically featured a hollow resonator, often carved from wood or, in some early examples, made with a tortoiseshell soundbox. Two arms rose from the body and supported a crossbar to which gut strings were attached. The number of strings varied, commonly four to seven. The instrument was plucked with a plectrum, usually held in the right hand, while the left hand could dampen or adjust resonance with the fingers.

Contexts and use: The phorminx accompanied epic poetry, hymns, and songs in religious rites, symposia, and public performances. It was associated with professional musicians and rhapsodes and appeared in temple cults and lyric contests. In myth and poetry it is linked to Apollo and the tradition of sung narrative.

Legacy: Over time, the phorminx contributed to the development of later Greek lyres and influenced Mediterranean plucked instruments. No original phorminx survives, but depictions on pottery and literary references provide information about its form and function.