Psaltery

PSALTERY (Ψαλήρɩoν; Old English Sautry; French Psalterion; Ital. Salterio; Ger. Psalter). A dulcimer, played with the fingers or a plectrum instead of by hammers. The French have adopted the Greek name without change. There exists a classic sculptured representation of the Muse Erato, holding a long ten-stringed lyre, with the name ΨA?TPIAN cut on its base. From this it has been inferred that the strings of this lyre were touched by the fingers without the usual plectrum of ivory...