Citole

The Citole is a medieval stringed instrument with three strings vertebrae.

Name

The word was formerly derived from the Latin cistella, " little box " and considered as a small dulcimer or psaltery. In fact, it is the medieval name of the cittern. Presumably from a medieval Latin cithrola, " small Cithara " contracted. The name exists in various spellings, such as citola, citula, cetula, cythera, citera, chytara, cithara, cetola, cythole, sitole, sytholle, cytolys, cetera, cetola, citola, cistola, cedra cuitole, zitol and cistole.

History

An early evidence of the occurrence of Citole forms the cover of the Gospels of Charlemagne (late 8th century ). In the 9th century, the instrument can be seen on pictures, but only from the 12th century it was common also mentioned in writing. Different designs have become known. Developmentally, one sees in the Citole which was completed in southwest Europe connecting the western Zargentypus with the pear- shaped body outline and the neck and fingerboard of the oriental lute instruments.