Category: Culture & Society

Ancient Greek Lyre Featured by the BBC and London's Guildhall School of Music & Drama

The ancient Greek lyre, one of antiquity's most iconic musical instruments, has taken centre stage in a series of high-profile cultural events in the United Kingdom.

Musicians Theodoros Koumartzis and Lina Palera presented a concert, led an educational workshop, and appeared live on BBC radio, introducing British audiences to the distinctive sound and rich history of an instrument that, for centuries, was known primarily through archaeological discoveries and artistic depictions.

Their visit formed part of the Guildhall Harp Festival, organised by harp professor Imogen Barford at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. The festival marked the institution's first official presentation of the ancient Greek lyre, featuring both a concert and a hands-on workshop attended by, among others, Guildhall harp students studying at the highest level.

The events highlighted growing international interest in the revival of the ancient Greek lyre and its place within both historical scholarship and contemporary musical performance.

Ancient Greek Seven-String Lyre Performances to Be Held in Maroneia, Komotini and Delphi

The third consecutive year of the Democritus University of Thrace's official educational programme on the ancient Greek seven-string lyre, offered through the University's Centre for Lifelong Learning, will conclude with a series of three musical performances at landmark cultural venues in northern and central Greece.

The concerts will be staged at the Ancient Theatre of Maroneia, the Byzantine Wall of Komotini, and the Angelos Sikelianos Museum in Delphi, celebrating the successful completion of the pioneering programme dedicated to the study and performance of the ancient instrument.

The performances highlight ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Greece's musical heritage by reconnecting contemporary audiences with the sounds and traditions of classical antiquity.

Europe's Oldest Surviving Novel Comes to Life at the Archaeological Museum of Alexandroupoli

The Ephorate of Antiquities of Evros is inviting audiences of all ages to experience a unique theatrical event as it presents Chaereas and Callirhoe: The Adventure of Coming of Age, an innovative stage adaptation of Chariton's Chaereas and Callirhoe.

Widely regarded as the oldest surviving novel in European literature, dating to the 1st century AD, Chaereas and Callirhoe is being adapted for the Greek stage for the first time. Directed by Aris Laskos and performed by the UBUNTU theatre company, the production offers a fresh interpretation of the ancient love story, designed to appeal to audiences aged 8 to 108.

The performance will take place at the Archaeological Museum of Alexandroupoli, where the ancient text is brought to life through a family-friendly theatrical experience that explores themes of love, identity, courage, and the journey to adulthood.