Medieval psaltery - The psaltery (Greek psalterion, or "sing") is derived from the Arabic qanun. It was introduced into Europe in the early Middle Ages, as a result of the Islamic presence in Spain, as well as from exchanges made during the crusades. It is a box zither with wire strings. It has a remarkable resonance, and is the ancestor of the harpsichord and the piano.

Arabic qanun - A large zither, with gut or nylon strings. It is held in the lap and played with plectra. It is popular throughout the Middle East and is the ancestor of the psaltery.

Iranian santur - A trapezoidal zither, with wire strings that are played with two wooden hammers (mezrab). It is related to the Balkan cimbalom, and the Celtic hammer dulcimer, and may be the ancestor of both.

Egyptian simsimiyya - A wire-strung lyre, the basic shape of which dates back to Pharonic times. It is popular in communities along the Nile.

Anglo-Saxon lyre - Also known as the hearpa, this is a six string lyre used by the Anglo Saxons in Britain between the sixth and twelfth centuries. It was often used to accompany epic poetry; the Old English poem Beowulf was probably sung to the lyre.

Welsh crwth - An early medieval Celtic lyre that was both plucked an bowed. Versions of the instrument continued to be used into the 17th century.

Hebrew kinnor - The lyre of biblical Isreal and the ancient world. It is smilar in shape to the lyre of the Greco-Roman world.

Kithara - The lyre of ancient Greece, depicted in numerous drawings and carvings. Various forms of this lyre were common throughout the Hellenistic world, and used in both sacred and secular music.

Ethiopian Krar - A five-stringed traditional lyre from Ethiopia, this is a very ancient instrument that is still quite popular in traditional Ethiopian music. It has some similarities to the Egyptian simsimiyya and the West African kora.

Finnish Kantele - A beautiful, winged-shaped psaltery-like instrument found in Finland and the Baltic countries. Traditionally, it had five strings tuned diatonically, though there are now kanteles with 10, 15, and even more strings, usually made of wire. The instrument produces a hauntingly beautiful and ethereal sound.

Husli - A Ukrainian lyre, that descends from the instruments used by the skomorokhi (medieval Russian minstrels). A hybrid between the kantele and Nordic lyre.