Kithara

The kithara, Latinized as cithara, was an ancient Greek musical instrument in the yoke lutes family. It was a seven-stringed professional form of the lyre, an instrument regarded as more rustic or suited to beginners’ music education. The kithara was primarily played by professional musicians known as kitharodes. In modern Greek, kithara means “guitar,” a word that etymologically derives from kithara.

Instrument family

Yoke lutes

Strings

Seven

Primary performers

Professional musicians called kitharodes