An ancient Greek stringed musical instrument, similar to a lyre, with a larger resonating body and more strings, used for both accompaniment and solo performance.
From Greek kithara (κιθάρα), the instrument sacred to Apollo; the term was borrowed into Latin and English. The instrument evolved from earlier Mesopotamian harps and was central to ancient Greek musical culture.
The cithara was so important to ancient Greek identity that Apollo himself was depicted carrying one—in fact, the god's title 'Phoebus' was as much about his role as divine musician as it was about being the sun god, showing how the Greeks saw music and divine beauty as inseparable concepts.
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