The Song of the Lyre: Ancient Stories of Gods, Heroes, and Mortals
29.00 €
“A collection of ancient Greek & Roman stories that teaches us not only about the instrument but about philosophy, war, politics, education, and culture in general.” — Armand D’Angour, Professor of Classical Languages and Literature, Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford
For the Greeks, there was no education without the lyre. No feast, no sorrow, no ritual was complete without her. Such was her significance that the Greeks honored the instrument by placing her in the hands of their greatest gods and heroes, including Apollo, Achilles, and Orpheus.
Homer, Sappho, Hesiod, Alcaeus, and Ovid are some of the names the reader encounters in this collection of myths, odes, stories, and hymns, all with a common theme: the instrument of the gods—the lyre.
But why did the lyre consistently triumph over the flutes? What prompted Zeus to immortalize her among the stars as the constellation Lyra? Why was it crucial for even great heroes like Achilles and Alexander the Great to master her playing? And what led the esteemed Socrates to become a lyre student in his later years?
Embark on a journey with the lyre—from myth to legend, poetry, and finally, reality—as we explore her rich history in ancient literature through the works of some of antiquity’s greatest dramatists, poets, and authors.
_Credits
Nikolaos Koumartzis, D.Phil. (editor-in-chief)
Fotis Giantsios, M.Litt. (research director)
Michael J. Griffin, D.Phil. (scholarly advisor)
Armand D’Angour, Professor of Classics (Foreword)
_Publication ID
Hardcover Premium Edition
Dimensions: 14 x 20,5 cm
Pages: 328
Color: Duotone
With Dust Jacket (full color)
29.00 €
Or get the full series (4 books) with 15% off!
Explore the Lyre Mythos.
Discover Lyre's Glorious Past.
^ In Classical Greece, it was expected from all Greeks to know how to play the lyre, as it was expected even from the greatest of their heroes (there are recounts of Achilles being a great lyre player and Alexander the Great being instructed on the lyre). In James Barry's painting titled "The Education of Achilles," we see Achilles being guided by the centaur Cheiron (oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art).
< In Classical Greece, it was expected from all Greeks to know how to play the lyre, as it was expected even from the greatest of their heroes (there are recounts of Achilles being a great lyre player and Alexander the Great being instructed on the lyre). In James Barry's painting titled "The Education of Achilles," we see Achilles being guided by the centaur Cheiron (oil on canvas, Yale Center for British Art).
Welcome to a brand-new book series titled Lyre Mythos, a SEIKILO original. It is a multifaceted project, mindfully assembled by a team of skillful authors and scholars, all closely affiliated with the worldwide lyre community.
Our goal is to introduce the mythos of the lyre to a more general audience, exploring the celebrated past of this unique ancient musical instrument through history, arts, literature, and mythology.
Why was it so important to be linked to the lyre in the ancient world? Why, centuries later, were medieval warlords, usually completely uneducated in music, buried alongside this particular instrument? Why did the Old Testament put the lyre in King David’s hands? And why did Ludwig Van Beethoven, the great composer and pianist, want to be portrayed holding one in his 19th-century portrait?
These are some of the unexpected but utterly thrilling questions we will search for an answer to. The truth about to be revealed will lead us to new but equally exciting inquiries.
References
Koumartzis, N. (2024). Introduction: The Lyre's Transcendence in The Lyre as a Symbol artbook. Thessaloniki: SEIKILO Books.
Koumartzis, N. (2024). Introduction: In search of the Song of the Lyre in The Song of the Lyre anthology. Thessaloniki: SEIKILO Books.
What to Expect?
Delivery
Premium publication
We use state-of-the-art printing technologies for our premium publications, considering deeply our impact on the environment. This is why we only use carbon-neutral processes and exclusively FSC-certified paper made of responsibly sourced wood fiber.
Help us dive deeper
Help us dive deeper
Rest assured that your order finances the research needed for the next installment of the Lyre Mythos series so we can dive deeper and bring you the next valuable insight into the rich lyre mythos.
Premium publication
We use state-of-the-art printing technologies for our premium publications, considering deeply our impact on the environment. This is why we only use carbon-neutral processes and exclusively FSC-certified paper made of responsibly sourced wood fiber.
Delivery
The Song of the Lyre: Ancient Stories of Gods, Heroes, and Mortals
29.00 €
