“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)