bowl lyre

musical instrument

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A bowl lyre is a type of stringed musical instrument characterized by a rounded body with a curved back, often made of materials like tortoiseshell, and a skin belly. Separate arms extend from the body and are joined by a crossbar, to which the strings are attached. These strings run from a tailpiece to the crossbar and are typically plucked.

Bowl lyres have ancient origins, with examples found in regions like ancient Greece, where they were known as the lyra. They are still played today in parts of East Africa, such as Ethiopia and Eritrea, where instruments like the krar are secular in use. The construction and playing techniques of these modern African lyres offer insights into the practices of ancient musicians.12

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lyre
Bowl lyres have a rounded body with a curved back—often of tortoiseshell—and a skin belly; the arms are invariably constructed separately, as in the Greek lyra.
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Bowl lyres have a rounded body with a curved back—often of tortoiseshell—and a skin belly; the arms are invariably constructed separately, as in the Greek lyra.
Read More