Barbitos
Eros with barbitos
The barbitos or barbiton is an ancient , Greek stringed instrument , which the lyres heard and of poets as Alkaios , Sappho and Anacreon was used to accompany their songs.
It also served as background music for shows and theater plays and was played here mainly in the area around the Greek god Dionysus , e.g. B. of the mythological figures of satyrs . See also: satyr play
Not much is known about the construction. Its number of usually seven strings exceeded the number of strings of kithara or lyre , both of which are closely related to the barbitos. Its heyday was in the 6th century BC. Characteristic for the barbitos are its long yoke arms that approach each other at the top.
literature
- Karl von Jan: Barbiton . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume III, 1, Stuttgart 1897, Col. 4 f.