What is a lyre used for?

A lyre is a stringed musical instrument. It was used by the ancient Greeks to accompany singing or poetry.

Where do lyres appear in Greek mythology?

Lyres appear in Greek mythology as an instrument played by the gods Hermes and Apollo, and by the Greek hero Orpheus. All three were famous as superb lyre players.

Who is the greatest lyre player in Greek mythology?

The greatest lyre player in Greek mythology is Apollo, who went on to teach Orpheus, another famous player.

Lyre Timeline

Definition

The lyre was a stringed musical instrument played by the ancient Greeks. It was probably the most important and well-known instrument in the Greek world. The lyre was closely related to the other stringed instruments: the chelys which was made from a tortoise shell, the four-stringed phorminx, and the seven-stringed kithara. Apollo and Orpheus were the most famous lyre players.

More about: Lyre

Timeline

2000 BCE
The first examples of the lyre in the Bronze Age Aegean occur in the Cyclades and on Minoan Crete.
1420 BCE - 1300 BCE
Clay dancing figures including a rare female lyre player are made in Minoan Palaikastro.
c. 1400 BCE
Lyres across the Aegean assume S-shaped arms and become more decoratively carved, most often with sculpted birds.
1250 BCE - 1200 BCE
A Linear B tablet from Greek Thebes mentions lyre players as members of the royal palace staff.
600 BCE - 550 BCE
The silver stater coin of Calymna in Caria depicts a tortoise shell lyre on its reverse side.
c. 550 BCE
The silver drachma of Delos depicts a lyre - symbolic of Apollo - on its reverse side.
c. 100 BCE
Coins of Kos and Thespiai depict a lyre on their reverse side.