Kinnōr

Kinnōr [U.] (Heb.), 1. generic name for stringed instrs. among the ancient Hebrews; 2. trapezoid lyre of the ancient Hebrews, played in biblical times. The Vulgate (ca. 400) translates it as kithara, the Septuagint as kinyra, psalterion. It was the “harp” of King David, related to the knr, both a Temple and a secular instr. Made of wood and strung with sheep-gut strings, it was played with a plectrum when accompanying dances, otherwise with bare fingers. Ancient reproductions show 3 to 12…