Lyre, << lyr, >> is an ancient stringed musical instrument that resembles a small harp. It has a bowl- or box-shaped frame with two arms extending upward. A crossbar is attached to the top of the arms. The instrument has 4 to 10 strings, which extend from the crossbar to the base of the frame. The player plucks the strings with the fingers of one hand or with a plectrum (pick). The fingers of the other hand press down on the strings to set the required pitch. In Europe, some types of lyres are played with a bow instead of by plucking the strings. The sound of a lyre is amplified by a piece of cattle skin stretched tightly across the open side of the frame.
The lyre was especially popular among the ancient Greeks. The instrument was the symbol of Apollo, the Greek god of music and poetry. The Greeks used the lyre to accompany their songs and recitations. The words lyric and lyrical come from this use of the instrument.
