Iraklion (Herakion), Crete
Unknown craftsman 

Wood, gut & metal strings, pigment
Late 19th-Early 20th century
Length: 22.4 in (includes foot peg); Width: 8.5 in; Depth: 3.25 in
Strings – Lutes – Miscellaneous Lutes

The Crete lyra is a traditional musical instrument used in the music of Crete and other islands in the Dodecanese and the Aegean Archipelago, in Greece.  This folk carved tribute lyra is made from cedar and has two metal and one gut string. The entire instrument is intricately carved with geometric stylized designs throughout. At the base of the neck there is a carving of two birds facing away from each other, and on the back of the instrument a scene of two men fighting with swords. The scroll is the most intricate, featuring on the top a carving of a man seated and playing a lyra.

Three wooden tuning pegs are inserted into the base of the man’s chair, one each on the left and right sides and one through the fully carved back. The carved man is distinct, with a unique hairstyle and black painted mustache. The soundboard has two small semicircular sound holes carved near the bridge.  A pointed pick, shown in the bottom left picture is also stuck behind the bridge. 

This bowed lyra is played vertically with the foot of the instrument placed on the top of the thigh. The strings are usually tuned to A D G.  Previously the middle string was primarily used as a drone string.  Unique to the playing of the lyra is that the strings are not stopped (pressed) by the finger like playing the violin. Instead the nail of the player’s hand or the long neck pick mentioned above is placed up against the side of the string, giving the voice of the lyra a distinctly different sound when bowed.

Iraklion, is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit.