If someone had told the Koumartzis family back in 2014 that, within a little over a decade, their instruments would reach more than 40 countries, they would probably have found it hard to believe. After all, who could have imagined that building an ancient Greek lyre in Evropos, Kilkis, would lead to collaborations with the globally successful video game God of War, or to commissions from academics teaching Homer abroad? 

From the outset, however, their aim was clear: to build a real community around ancient music. That vision has taken shape through the creation of the Luthieros company, as well as Seikilos – the first museum dedicated to ancient music – an eponymous online channel with 230,000 subscribers, and the first online learning platform for the ancient lyre. The family also publishes English-language educational books and collaborates with institutions such as the Benaki Museum in Athens and the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels. In many respects, their story is a quiet success story from provincial Greece.

Perhaps most striking is that everything operates within a tightly knit circle: family members, fellow villagers and friends work together with dedication to produce 10 to 15 instruments each week, which are then shipped from Evropos to customers around the world (around 80% abroad). But who actually buys an ancient Greek musical instrument?

“People tend to think these instruments are only for specialists – and to be fair, that perception was reinforced in the past by certain figures involved in the field of ancient Greek music,” explains Theodoros Koumartzis, one of the family’s three sons and the company’s communications manager. High costs have also, until recently, limited wider access to the craft. In reality, however, it is far more accessible than many assume. “It’s actually easier to play the ancient lyre than the classical guitar, because it’s tuned to a single scale, making it more approachable for someone with no musical background,” he says.

Reconstructing the Ancient Lyre

Anastasios Koumartzis, a veterinarian by training, began building traditional musical instruments 20 years ago. One of his three sons, Nikolas Koumartzis – who holds a postgraduate degree in product design from the International Hellenic University – came up with the idea of reviving an ancient Greek instrument. Working together, father and son developed the first prototypes, and before long the entire family had become involved. Two years later, in 2016, they founded the Seikilos museum in Thessaloniki, which today is visited by numerous schools. “Building ancient musical instruments is a shared passion for our whole family,” he says.

As he explains, the earliest known depictions of stringed instruments in the ancient Greek world date back to around 2700 BC. “Unfortunately, no instruments could have survived from that far back in time. A bone aulos – the Louvre aulos – has been found, originating from Egypt.” As a result, the family relies primarily on visual representations showing how instruments were played, and to a lesser extent on written sources and mythology, such as the myth of Hermes, which describes the materials of the first lyre. “We collaborated with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the International Hellenic University, drawing on all known depictions discovered to date,” he adds. Musicians – including Ross Daly – also contributed their expertise, alongside Iordanis, the eldest Koumartzis brother, who is a professional musician and luthier.

“In reality, the ancient lyre comprises a whole family of instruments,” Theodoros, explains. “For example, the chelys – the lyre of Hermes, made using a tortoise shell, skin, and wooden arms – can take two to three weeks to build. Other instruments, such as the ancient Greek kithara, are far more complex and may take up to a month and a half. Environmental conditions such as humidity and rainfall also play a role. A piece of wood such as mulberry may need months to dry properly. We test and tune all instruments to ensure they are ready to travel.”

From Evropos to the Gaming Industry

“There is strong interest from international film production and video game companies, because ancient Greece continues to be a rich source of inspiration,” he says. Two years ago, the family received an email from the team of a renowned composer working on major international productions, asking them to record an ancient Greek kithara for a project. They went into a studio in Thessaloniki, where their collaborator Lina Palera recorded the music together with Theodoros. When the game was released, they saw their names in the credits – the feeling was unforgettable. “You can adapt techniques from other instruments, but with the ancient lyre and kithara – which do not have a fingerboard – both hands are used in a completely different way, as we can see in ancient depictions,” he explains. “It’s an instrument you can pick up and play immediately, even without prior knowledge, yet it also offers depth for long-term study.”

The most affordable lyres start at around €400-500, while an ancient Greek kithara can reach €2,000-3,000. At the moment, the family is also working on the construction of a hydraulis, a precursor to the pipe organ. “We are currently taking part in a three-year European program, collaborating with luthiers from Germany and Belgium, as well as a university, with the aim of developing educational material and promoting the instrument.”

But what can someone who is not a professional musician – or a specialist in ancient instruments – ultimately gain from it? “The sound of the ancient lyre is unique. Instead of 25 or 30 strings like a harp, the lyre has seven, nine, or eleven. With fewer strings, you can do more: you focus on what matters, and in the end, when everything comes together, you create something beautiful.” A message that feels particularly resonant in an age of constant information overload.

More information about the Koumartzis family’s work and musical community can be found at luthieros.com.