“Solon of Athens heard his nephew sing a song of Sappho’s over the wine and, since he liked the song so much, he asked the boy to teach it to him. When someone asked him why, he said: ‘So that I may learn it, then die.’ “ - Florilegium (3.29.58) of Stobaeus
The Cithara of the Golden Age (Greek: κιθάρα, kithāra, Latin: cithara) was an advanced relative of the more popular lyre. As opposed to the simpler lyre, which was a folk-instrument, the kithara was primarily used by professional musicians, called kitharodes.
Most vase paintings show kitharas with seven strings, in agreement with ancient authors, but these also mention that occasionally a skilful kitharode would use more than the conventional seven strings.
The kithara was played primarily to accompany dances and epic recitations, rhapsodies, odes, and lyric songs. It was also played solo at the receptions, banquets, national games, and trials of skill. It is considered to be an invention of Terpander. Aristotle said that these string instruments were not for educational purposes but for pleasure only.
The kithara was the virtuoso’s instrument, generally known as requiring a great deal of skill.
Cithara of the Golden Age has 7 or 9 gut strings (a set of nylon strings are included too, for greater durability). The soundbox, the arm, the tailpiece, the crossbar, the advanced spring mechanism, the tuning keys and the bridge are made of maple wood, and the plectrum of animal bone. The Cithara's height is 80-90 cm with 40-50 cm width, while its soundbox dimensions are 40-50 x 40-45 x 8-10 cm.
Last, Luthieros' Cithara of the Golden Age comes with a simple but very effective adjustment system for adjusting the "stability" of the upper part of the arms and the instrument's crossbar.
Available only at en.luthieros.com and www.etsy.com/shop/Luthieros
