Yo —
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kithara
Because violins didn't exist in their modern European form back in Nero's day. So "fiddle" is a modern euphemism as a Kithara is very foreign to a more modern audience.
Violin like instruments have existed for quite a while in other continents. The musical encyclopedia of instruments is a great reference. It may help players and Staff not operate on assumptions or emotions on which instruments may or may not be appropriate to the setting When compared with cultures/timelines in our virtual reality setting.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-illustrated-encyclopedia-of-musical-instruments-from-all-eras-and-regions-of-the-world/1671180/item/36724371/
Cheers!
Edit:
As to my opinion, I think whatever floats peoples boats at this point. I'd personally play a Bard that plays the Kora or Oud or Saz because they're way cooler than guitars or violins for me, but I also have personal experience with what they look like, how they sound, and how to best represent them via text description. I totally sympathize with that being difficult for people who just look at an image of an instrument.
well... yeah the last 1/3 of my post is:
"-instruments need to be recognizable to be imagined and this is a text-based game, so having known instruments benefits roleplay
example: "Nero fiddles while Rome burns." Evocative, imaginative statement.
"Nero cithararizes while Rome burns." Confusing, what the fuck is a cithara."
to be more clear i was unsure how there's an argument that instruments from the viola family are anachronistic when there are European crossbows, katana, wooden locks that can't be opened without an actual key...
whole heartedly support you playing any instruments you want - doesn't seem like the place (to me) to say something doesn't belong when the game has longswords, recurve bows, katana, and yataghan in the same weapon store.