A dictionary of Greek and Roman . triangular harp (rpiywvov),which it resembled in the principles of its con-struction, though it was much larger and morecomplicated. The trigonum, a representation ofwhich from the Museum at Naples is given in theannexed woodcut, was held like the lyre in thehands of the performer (Spon, Misc. Erud. 21), whereas the harp was sometimes consider-ably higher than the stature of the performer, andwas placed upon the ground. The harp of theParthians and Troglodytae had only four strings.(Athen. xiv. p. 633, f.) Those which are painted onthe wal
A dictionary of Greek and Roman . triangular harp (rpiywvov),which it resembled in the principles of its con-struction, though it was much larger and morecomplicated. The trigonum, a representation ofwhich from the Museum at Naples is given in theannexed woodcut, was held like the lyre in thehands of the performer (Spon, Misc. Erud. 21), whereas the harp was sometimes consider-ably higher than the stature of the performer, andwas placed upon the ground. The harp of theParthians and Troglodytae had only four strings.(Athen. xiv. p. 633, f.) Those which are painted onthe walls of Egyptian tombs (see Denon, Wilkin-son, &c.) have from 4 to 38. One of them, takenfrom Bruces travels, is here introduced. Fromthe allusions to this instrument in Vitruvius () we find that the longest string was called the proslambanomenon, the next hjTpate, theshortest but one paranete, and the shortest,which had consequently the highest tone, wascalled nete. [See Musica, p. 775.] Underthe Roman Emperors the harp appears to have. come into more general use (Pers. v. 95 ; 26), and was played by men (<(rTcu)as well as women. (Athen. iv. p. 182, e.) Sambuca was also the name of a military engine,used to scale the walls and towers of besiegedcities. It was called by this name on account ofits general resemblance to the form of the , we may conceive an idea of its con-struction by turning to the Avoodcut and supposinga mast or upright pole to be elevated in the placeof the longest strings, and to have at its summit anapparatus of pulleys, from Avhich ropes proceed inthe direction of the top of the harp. We mustsuppose a strong ladder, 4 feet wide, and guardedat the sides Avith palisades, to occupy the place ofthe sounding-board, and to be capable of beingloAvered or raised at pleasure by means of the ropesand pulleys. At the siege of Syracuse Marcellushad engines of this description fixed upon vessels,which the roAvers moved up to
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Keywords: ., bookauthorsmithwilliam18131893, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840
