The sound of adventure video game God of War now includes an instrument that has not been heard for over 2,000 years.
When Emmy Award-winning composer Bear McCreary began crafting the music of God of War: Sons of Sparta, authenticity was essential to his approach. That search led to Greece and to the ancient kithara.
The kithara was one of the most important professional instruments of Ancient Greece. For centuries, however, she was considered lost in her original form. Today, musicians and luthiers who work closely with these reconstructions often refer to the instrument as “she,” a reflection of its voice, presence, and character.
Her modern revival is closely connected to the work of the Koumartzis family and the Luthieros Music Instruments, a family-owned workshop based in a small village in Greece that focuses on reconstructing lost ancient instruments. Through collaborations with universities and research institutions, the Koumartzis family has studied archaeological findings, ancient imagery, and historical sources to bring the kithara back as a fully playable instrument.
The kithara was recorded and integrated directly into the soundtrack of God of War: Sons of Sparta, a coming-of-age pixel art story. Her sound adds a distinctive color that digital instruments cannot replicate. Consequently, she becomes part of the score’s identity. Her voice connects mythology, history, and modern storytelling.
What makes this moment important is that a lost instrument is now reaching a global audience through one of the most influential video game worlds of our time. As audiences become more sensitive to sound and atmosphere, authenticity is part of the experience.
The revival of the kithara is not an isolated effort. It is part of a wider ecosystem based in Greece that connects research, craftsmanship, performance, and education.
This same philosophy is reflected in the Lyre Academy, an educational initiative dedicated to ancient music. Lina Palera, who participated in the recording, serves as Head of Musical Programs. She works with students internationally, helping them approach ancient instruments as expressive tools rather than distant artifacts.
As Lina Palera explains: “At the Lyre Academy, we do not approach ancient music as something distant or untouchable. We work with it as a living language, something that musicians today can study, interpret, and truly make their own.”
The same vision continues through the Seikilo Museum of Ancient Music in Thessaloniki. The museum presents ancient musical heritage through exhibitions, performances, and educational programs. Visitors can experience reconstructed instruments like the kithara in a direct and engaging way.
Beyond the physical space, Seikilo also maintains an active YouTube channel that reaches a global audience of hundreds of thousands through performances and research-based content. Together, these initiatives create a bridge between past and present.
Theodore Koumartzis, who also participated in the God of War’s recordings, asserted: “For us, the kithara is not just an object of the past. She is a living instrument. Bringing her into a production like God of War shows that ancient music can exist in today’s creative world as an active voice.”
Both artists have already contributed to international productions. Lina Palera’s music has appeared in the Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla.
Meanwhile, Theodore Koumartzis composed music for the Experience Ephesus Museum, an immersive installation at the archaeological site of Ephesus that welcomes thousands of visitors each day.
Upcoming performances include a concert at the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels on May 9 and a performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London on June 22, one of the most respected music institutions in Europe. At the same time, they are developing new projects. These include an album based on ancient Greek melodies and a commissioned work focused on Archytas and his interpretation of tetrachords, bringing theoretical aspects of ancient music into contemporary practice.
The rebirth of the kithara is a meeting point between eras, where ancient craftsmanship meets modern composition, and historical research meets digital storytelling.
Buy the God of War: Sons of Sparta soundtrack.
Author: Tyler Bennet
