Spain/ Maghreb: An oud player entertains a lady and her servants in this 13th-century picture from an Andalusian manuscript by Taifas al-Wasit.

The oud is a pear-shaped stringed instrument commonly used in Middle Eastern music. The modern oud and the European lute both descend from a common ancestor via diverging evolutionary paths. The oud is readily distinguished by its lack of frets and smaller neck.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Provider: Pictures From History