Hermes Lyre

Designed by Patrick Thilmany, a professional musician as well as luthier, the Hermes Lyre is hand-made from solid American cherry. Great attention to detail has been paid by skilled artisans, and each instrument is created with care, using the best materials available. The "bowl" in front is scalloped and the back is just as finely finished. Views of front & back are below.

Hermes is known as the god of shepherds, travelers, and all others who live by their wits. Hermes was also the brother of Apollo, the god of music. It is said that as a very young child, while his mother lay sleeping in the cave where they dwelt, Hermes crept away, and as a practical joke on his brother Apollo, stole a herd of his finest white cattle. Two of these he sacrificed to the gods on Mount Olympus in order to earn their favor. The rest he hid in a cave. Using a tortoise shell he found lying outside of the cave and the horns of the sacrificed cattle, Hermes fashioned the first Lyre, after which he stretched the entrails for use as the seven strings on which to play. When Apollo discovered the theft of his herd, he became very angry and confronted his younger brother.

Hermes could not deny his transgression and returned them to their owner. After this was done, the clever Hermes, sat down on a rock and played the New Musical Instrument within Apollo's hearing, knowing full well that a spellbound Apollo, god of music that he was, would have to possess the magic of the lyre for himself. So he gave to Hermes, who drove a hard bargain, his entire herd of precious white cattle, along with his Magic Staff in exchange for the Lyre.
Through the use of creativity and shrewdness in dealing with a difficult situation, Hermes had earned the favor of the gods on Mount Olympus, and was given the ability to travel swiftly between the fields of Earth and the courts of the gods, thus providing swift delivery of divine messages and inspiration to the people of Earth. He became known as the Winged Messenger of the Gods to the Greeks, and Mercury to the Romans.

Hand-crafted entirely of American cherry, solid through and through ......