Guitarra morisca (Chitarrino Arabo)

12th Century image from the Cefalù Cathedral of a lute-type instrument that has been called a Guitarra morisca by a modern builder of ancient instruments. He also called it a Chitarrino Arabo. The guitarra morisca is an obscure instrument, known mainly from pictures. Early instrument expert Francis William Galpin mentioned the instrument in his book, Old English Instruments of Music (pages 21-22), calling it the "Guitare Moresca" or 'Chittara Saraacenica', with its "long neck, oval shaped body and round back." He also felt it related to the Colascione.