On the oud they are called by the Arabic language term shams, meaning sun.
[2][3][4][5] From the medieval to the baroque periods, it was common to have ornately carved soundhole designs, called roses.
[6][7][8][9][10] The designs used for lutes and other early instruments were often inspired by the geometric patterns in Islamic art, probably from those used on the oud.
[11] During the romantic and classical periods in western music, the carved ornate soundhole roses went out of fashion and were replaced by open soundholes surrounded by inlaid decoration, commonly called rosettes.
Decorative inserted roses are also sometimes used in modern times on electro-acoustic instruments, to prevent feedback.