Aeolian harps create music by wind moving over the strings. Named for Aeolus, the ancient Greek god of wind, the harps include a wooden box with a sounding board and strings stretched lengthwise across two bridges.

Cultures including China, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, India, Indonesia, and Melanesia have ancient wind harp traditions. The Bible features Aeolian harps, likely the instrument which played by itself when King David held it to the wind.

This box zither-style Aeolian harp rose to popularity in Maine between 1800 to 1850.