Usage of tortoise shells as sound boxes for stringed instruments is
well known since at least 700 BC, two rather similar types, the
"lyra" and the lower tuned "barbiton" are proved by iconographic as
well as literary evidence. Synonymously both have also been called
"chelys", thus hinting the traditional use of tortoise shells.
Concerning Charlie Stokes' question whether Hermes or Heracles
invented the thing - it has been Hermes, and he did it not after
killing serpents (they visited indeed Heracles) but before he raided
the cattle herd of Apollon, thus, in the consequence of
this crime very soon getting rid of his invention, that he used as a
gift for reconciliation in order to appease his raging brother
(Homeric hymn to Hermes, 25-55 and 418-515, ed.
Allen/Halliday/Sikes, Homeric Hymns, 1936).
There are some archaeologic and art-historical papers on the Greek
tortoise lyre:
D. Dumoulin (1992): Die Chelys. Ein altgriechisches Saiteninstrument.
Archiv fuer Musikwissenschaft 49, 85-105 and 225-257 (most
comprehensive compilation of literary and iconographic sources),
H. Roberts (1981): reconstructing the Greek tortoise-shell lyre.
World Archaeology 12, 303-312,
A. Belis (1985): + propos de la construction de la lyre. Bulletin de
la Correspondance Hellenique 109, 201-220,
P. Faklaris (1977): Chelys. Archaiologikon Deltion (Greek!) 32,
218-233 (the latter papers concerning mainly details of
construction).
An archaeozoological review of available findings up to date is
lacking, I have tried to fill this gap with a forthcoming paper:
G. Forstenpintner (2001?): Die Lyra. Archaeozoologisches zum Fund des
Schildkroetenpanzers, in: G. Forstenpointner et al., "und unter der
Hand erklang es gewaltig" - Bestattung eines Lyraspielers in Ephesos
aus dem 5. Jh. v. Chr (ms. available!)
Species determination of carapaces revealed - and that seems to be
rather interesting - transport or even trading of tortoise lyres or
shells allover the ancient Greek world, proving usage of T. marginata
(endemic in Greece) in Southern Italy and of T. hermanni (not endemic
to the east of Bosporus) in Asia Minor.
Cheers
Gerhard
Prof.Dr. Gerhard Forstenpointner
Dept.of Anatomy, Archaeozoological Unit
University of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinaerplatz 1
A-1210 Vienna
AUSTRIA
ph:0043/1/25077-22503
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