Cretan lyraki

The lyraki was a small lyra used only to accompany Cretan dances. Although it was small and had a shallow body, its sound was loud, sharp and piercing. This type was the first to have a separate fingerboard (the 'tongue') and a long, narrow neck, which made fingering easier and let the player move his hand down the neck for higher notes. Some lyrakia had their wooden pegs set upright in the head, others on its left and right sides, as on a violin.

The head of the lyraki was carved in relief, mostly with animal heads, more rarely with human figures or geometric patterns, depending on the maker. Later a tassel of coloured threads was added, as well as engraved designs such as the snail or the 'carousel'. The bow was strung with horse or donkey hair and carried small 'hawk bells' to keep the rhythm, since at that time Cretan music had no accompanying instruments (the first lute appeared after 1915).