epa12838015 Nikolas Bras examines the bowl (soundbox) of a bouzouki still under construction in his workshop, where he has been working for approximately 40 years crafting handmade stringed instruments, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted instruments, their construction materials, the unique...

epa12838016 Hercules Bras adjusts the tuning pegs on a lyre under construction in his father’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The Bras family workshop, besides violin-family instruments, specializes also in making scientifically reconstructed replicas...

epa12838017 Socrates Bras sets up the bridge on a handmade double bass, in his father Nikolas’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted instruments, their construction materials, the unique timbre they produce, and the...

epa12838018 Hercules Bras carves the bowl (soundbox) of a lyre, in his father Nikolas’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted instruments, their construction materials, the unique timbre they produce, and the...

epa12838019 Nikolas Bras heats veneer strips — ribs — to bend them so they can be placed onto the bowl of a bouzouki under completion in his workshop, where he has been working for approximately 40 years crafting handmade stringed instruments, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted...

epa12838020 Lyres and kitharas hang before their completion in the workshop of Nikolas Bras and his sons, Socrates and Hercules, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The Bras family workshop, besides violin-family instruments, specializes also in making scientifically...

epa12838022 Panagiotis Kafetzopoulos, a maker of handmade stringed instruments, tunes a stringed instrument of his own creation in his workshop in Exarcheia district, Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The instruments Panagiotis Kafetzopoulos designs and produces are highly distinguished by their excellent craftsmanship and...

epa12838021 Hercules Bras carves the holes in order to install the tuning pegs on a lyre still in progress, in his father’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The Bras family workshop, besides violin-family instruments, specializes also in making...

epa12838023 Socrates Bras checks the tonality of the soundboard (top) of a violin near completion, in his father Nikolas’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The Bras family workshop, besides violin-family instruments, specializes also in making...

epa12838024 Nikolas Bras sands the bowl of a bouzouki still in the making, in his workshop where he has been working for approximately 40 years crafting handmade stringed instruments, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted instruments, their construction materials, the unique timbre they...

epa12838011 Socrates Bras installs and checks the bridge on a handmade double bass, in his father Nikolas’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted instruments, their construction materials, the unique timbre they...

epa12838012 Hercules Bras carves the holes in order to install the tuning pegs on a lyre still in progress, in his father’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The Bras family workshop, besides violin-family instruments, specializes also in making...

epa12838013 Panagiotis Toulikas, a maker of handmade stringed instruments, works on installing the tuning pegs upon the headstock of a bouzouki, in his workshop in Exarcheia district, Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). Panagiotis Toulikas specializes in building guitars and bouzoukis; he believes that experienced performers prefer...

epa12838008 Hercules Bras tunes a handmade, custom-built violin featuring a carved figure of the god Poseidon on the headstock, in his father Nikolas’s workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 09 March 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these hand-crafted instruments, their...

epa12838009 Panagiotis Toulikas, a maker of handmade stringed instruments, works on installing the tuning pegs upon the headstock of a bouzouki, in his workshop in Exarcheia district, Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). Panagiotis Toulikas specializes in building guitars and bouzoukis; he believes that experienced performers prefer...

epa12838010 Hercules Bras, with the help of his brother Socrates, tunes a handmade double bass after having installed the bridge on the instrument, in the workshop of their father Nikolas workshop, where handmade stringed instruments have been crafted for 40 years, in Athens, Greece, 26 February 2026 (issued 21 March 2026). The customized shape of these...