A Tortoise-Shell Lyre from Korinthos

Abstract The Korinthos musical find comprises the carapace-soundbox and the tailpiece of an ancient Hellenic bowl lyre, coming from a grave of a, possibly, adult female, dated to the Late Archaic-Early Classical period (6th/5th c. BC ). The iron tailpiece survives complete, and in its original place on the shell. Although some of the lateral and side plaques have perished, enough material of the carapace survives for us to establish the existence of the expected holes for the fixation of the arms upon it, and the total absence of the usual peripheral or other small holes in it. A special feature is the small size of the shell, suggestive of a child’s chelys. The possibility that the carapace belonged to a barbitos is not favourably entertained.