Lyre of Hermes (7 or 9 strings) – ancient Greek lyre
Price range: 740.00 € through 840.00 €
“So then, I will give you this lyre, glorious son of Zeus…” — Homeric Hymn to Hermes, line 490
This is a replica of a chelys lyre, inspired by the ancient god Hermes, the mythical inventor of the lyre. According to Greek mythology, Hermes, in his mischievous youth, stole a herd of sacred cattle from Apollo. After sacrificing one, he used its entrails and a tortoise shell to create the first lyre. Apollo, initially enraged, was so enchanted by the sound of this new instrument that he offered Hermes the stolen cattle in exchange for the lyre.
The LUTHIEROS Lyre of Hermes captures the spirit of this mythological origin. Traditionally crafted with 7 strings, she is considered the ideal base instrument for anyone beginning their journey into the world of ancient music. In fact, many renowned lyre instructors use 7-string lyres in their teachings due to their intuitive tuning and broad expressive range.
A 9-string version is also available, offering a chromatic range that spans a full octave. When advanced techniques such as harmonics and hroes are used, both the 7- and 9-string lyres can easily produce three to four octaves, including all accidentals.
Now available: the enhanced 9-string Lyre of Hermes
From now on, the 9-string version of this lyre features an upgraded tortoise-shell soundbox, carefully designed to double the internal resonance volume compared to our standard models. This results in a profound transformation of the instrument’s acoustic performance:
- Fuller projection, making the lyre sound richer and more powerful in both solo and ensemble settings.
- Greater tonal depth, with clearer low and resonant high frequencies.
- Enhanced sustain, allowing the notes to linger and breathe, ideal for expressive melodic playing or modal improvisation.
- Increased dynamic range, enabling subtler nuances and greater emotional impact in your performances.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned musician, the Lyre of Hermes offers a historically informed and musically inspiring way to reconnect with the ancient sounds of Greece.
“He sang the story of the deathless gods and the dark earth, how at the first they came to be, and how each one received his portion.” — Homeric Hymn to Hermes, lines 414–435
Price range: 740.00 € through 840.00 €
Endorsed by the Best
Great performers using LUTHIEROS lyres
^ Theodore Koumartzis playing a LUTHIEROS Lyre of Hermes during rehearshals for PAUSIS Project coming album release.
Historic Accuracy & Playability
It's not a battle. It's about finding the right balance.
^ Orpheus seated playing the lyre, while Thracian soldiers listening to his music. Krater found in Gela (Sicily), 5th century B.C.. Antikensammlung Berlin collection.
< Orpheus seated playing the lyre, while Thracian soldiers listening to his music. Krater found in Gela (Sicily), 5th century B.C.. Antikensammlung Berlin collection.
Bringing Ancient Artifacts Back to Life
To handcraft premium ancient-replicas with a focus to the modern musician, you have to research a lot, analyze hundreds of ancient depictions, build a lot of prototypes, test them with great musicians, etc.
And all of these, to conclude to meaningful compromises that have to be made, that are both deeply justified and make sense in terms of usability/playability. All in all, our ultimate goal is to serve the modern musician, and to bring ancient artifacts back to life as fully functional musical instruments.
Manufactured at the premises of the ancient Europos (Northern Greece) by a family of musicians and luthiers, the LUTHIEROS Lyre of Hermes is made exclusively using natural materials available during the antiquity. All parts are made of quality wood with great musicality, the soundbox is a reproduction of an actual tortoiseshell, while the tuning pegs are made by ebony and mulberry wood. The bottom part of the strings is attached to animal skin, while the plectrum is manufactured by wood.
This ancient artifact was evolved to become a modern musical instrument ready to be used by both amateur and professional musicians. For all the minor (but very important) alterations, top-notch technologies were used during the prototyping phase (such as 3d Modeling and rapid prototyping) as part of University-based research by members of LUTHIEROS family. Key collaborations include the International Hellenic University and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
References
Koumartzis et al. (2015). A New Music Instrument from Ancient Times: Modern Reconstruction of the Greek Lyre of Hermes using 3D Laser Scanning, Advanced Computer Aided Design and Audio Analysis. Journal of New Music Research. 44. 324-346.
Maas, M. & McIntosh Snyder, J. (1989). Stringed Instruments of Ancient Greece, New Haven.
Various authors (2012). Greek Musical Instruments: Research in visual and written sources (2000 B.C. - 2000 A.D.), Teloglion Foundation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
West, M.L. (1992). Ancient Greek Music, Oxford.
Our research is featured in major media:
With Each Order You Will Receive
Delivery
Lifetime guarantee
Tuning and maintenance guide
Instrument report
Superior strings
Every instrument handcrafted by LUTHIEROS is shipped with sugarcane strings, mindfully sanctioned to match the needs of our ancient-inspired musical instruments by the world-renowned “Aquila Corde Armoniche.” We choose sugarcane strings as a default due to their soothing sound, and durability.
Additionally, you can order our Premium Gut Strings here, explicitly produced for LUTHIEROS musical instruments in collaboration with top string manufacturers around Europe.
A pack of extras
Including a wooden plectrum, along with extra small gifts to say "thank you" for making our family's dream possible!
All You Need to Know
An exclusive book featuring ancient & modern melodies, all you need to know about the ancient Greek modes, a glimpse into ancient Greek music theory with Aristoxenus, information about the role of the lyre in Classical Greece, how it came to be a universal symbol of music and much more about the ancient lyre by professors and scholars! A premium publication and a must-have introduction to the lyre world.
Ancient music album
A music album featuring some of the most talented performers around the world, with authentic ancient melodies and modern compositions.
Someone you can trust
We love what we do, and we truly care about every musician we serve.
"All of these beautiful lyres, lovingly hand-crafted by Luthieros are indeed, divine artifacts, reintroduced into the modern world… " - Michael Levy, a world-renowned lyre player. Read his extended review here.
"Electric guitars are very often provided with vibrato, tremolo or whammy bars. That concept was in fact invented by the ancient Greeks twenty four hundred years ago. Kithara was a musical instrument very popular during the Golden Age of Ancient Greece. This is a reproduction that was made by the Greek master luthier Anastasios Koumartizis of Luthieros Music Instruments." - Peter Pringle, a professional Canadian musician, and well-known ancient instruments player. Watch his extended video review here.
"Can't be happier with my lyre! Learning how to play this amazing piece of art! The lyre has amazing finishes and you can feel it's made with love and skilfull hands." - Jaume Gual Bennàssar, Balearic Islands, Spain (verified review through Etsy.com).
Our family is world-renowned for its dedication, love and care. Here are some amazing reviews concerning our whole product range!
"It’s handcrafted with such care and the materials are fine and well chosen. It arrived to us safely all the way from Greece and we were able to track it all the way so we always knew what was happening." - Rachel Loeb, Los Angeles, U.S.A. (verified review through Etsy.com).
"Amazing company! I was very skeptical about ordering an instrument online but it was packaged very safely and arrived in such a timely manner! Luthieros also has some of the best communication skills I've ever encountered with a company, I had many questions that were all answered with great detail shortly after I asked them." - Batherus Batherus, New York, U.S.A. (verified review through Etsy.com).
"The Koumartzis familia have been making replicas of ancient Greek instruments for many years, used by famous lyre players. They also contribute to their musical passions through research and collaborations." - Ancient History Encyclopedia. Read the extended tribute here.
"My ancient Kithara, handcrafted by Luthieros Music Instruments, is for me a very interesting challenge. As an instrument is both old and new. It carries a history of many centuries and at the same time_ it is a very modern challenge that requires a creative approach to musical archetypes. After many experiments […] I discover that this instrument has but many extensions and features that are not noticeable at first glance. The construction is both sturdy and thin, and made of quality woods, which are eclectic, stylish and durable." - Ross Daly, a professional world musician of Irish descent.
"Absolutely fantastic! A truly wonderfully crafted instrument. I can’t put it down. It feels wonderful to play and is transporting me back in time." - Sarah Tilsley, West Sussex, U.K. (verified review through Etsy.com).
Add a Premium Gigbag
A premium gigbag specially designed for LUTHIEROS Music Instruments
Multi-purpose protection
Water-resistant, dust-proof, and shock-absorbing thanks to its extra reinforced power-padding!
Beautifully designed to the detail
An impressive black / deep red color with many small details that add up to a premium product: color-coordinated features, ancient-inspired embroidery, top-quality zippers, and clippers, breathable back, extra reinforced straps, water-resistant and dust-proof materials.
Ergonomic design
Extra-thick
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Lyre of Hermes (7 or 9 strings) – ancient Greek lyre
Price range: 740.00 € through 840.00 €
