History

The bouzouki is descendant of the long necked lute, which was known from Ancient times. Same type of instrument was played in Pre-Hellenic civilizations like Egypt & Chine. In ancient Greece predecessor of a bouzouki was known under the name of “pandouris” that changed into “tambouras” during Byzantine era. The National Archaeological Museum of Greece displays the “tambouras” that belonged to the hero of Greek revolution of 1821, and which bears great similarity to the bouzouki used by “rembetes”.