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MUSC 289
Mythology Essay
September 29th, 2022
Marsyas and Apollo: a musical
challenge between balance and chaos
, 2
Marsyas was a Phrygian Satyr who invented the musical instrument the flute. He found
the first flute from the goddess Athena, who has cast away this instrument because she was
displeased with how one cheek bloated when playing it. The myth begins with the goddess
Athena and Marsyas. Athena used to play the flute often until one day she looked into the waters
of the river, as she uses to always do, and noticed how when she was playing the flute it made
her cheeks puff up and make her face look unpleasant and inelegant. Athena threw the flute into
the river due to her affirming that the art of mastering this instrument was not worth the
"ugliness". With that Athena launched a curse on the flute that involved an atrocious death of
anyone who chooses to play this instrument. The flute that Athena threw was later put in the
hands of the satyr Marsyas. Marsyas was at first amazed by the instrument but had no idea how
to use it, though, Marsyas realized that the breath generated such sounds and later became very
good at the instrument. The sounds he was creating were so good that it started boasting nymphs
(who are believed to be mythical spirits of nature. They are imagined as beautiful maidens
inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations).
After Marsyas found the flute - once played by the goddess Athena - and emitted such
beautiful melodies that Marsyas, amazed by his skills in playing the flute, Marsyas decided to
challenge Apollo, a player of the lyre in a musical competition. This competition included a twist
of the winner being able to punish the loser in any way they want. This myth ends in three
different ways; the first being Hyginus's version, which tells the story of how Marsyas wins the
first round of the competition by getting the better of Apollon. Where everyone enjoyed the
melodies being produced from both instruments. Though, this version ends with Apollon
winning the competition because Apollon not giving up and inviting Marsyas to play the same
melody as Apollon. Though, this did not lend well with the flute which is why Apollon won in
MUSC 289
Mythology Essay
September 29th, 2022
Marsyas and Apollo: a musical
challenge between balance and chaos
, 2
Marsyas was a Phrygian Satyr who invented the musical instrument the flute. He found
the first flute from the goddess Athena, who has cast away this instrument because she was
displeased with how one cheek bloated when playing it. The myth begins with the goddess
Athena and Marsyas. Athena used to play the flute often until one day she looked into the waters
of the river, as she uses to always do, and noticed how when she was playing the flute it made
her cheeks puff up and make her face look unpleasant and inelegant. Athena threw the flute into
the river due to her affirming that the art of mastering this instrument was not worth the
"ugliness". With that Athena launched a curse on the flute that involved an atrocious death of
anyone who chooses to play this instrument. The flute that Athena threw was later put in the
hands of the satyr Marsyas. Marsyas was at first amazed by the instrument but had no idea how
to use it, though, Marsyas realized that the breath generated such sounds and later became very
good at the instrument. The sounds he was creating were so good that it started boasting nymphs
(who are believed to be mythical spirits of nature. They are imagined as beautiful maidens
inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations).
After Marsyas found the flute - once played by the goddess Athena - and emitted such
beautiful melodies that Marsyas, amazed by his skills in playing the flute, Marsyas decided to
challenge Apollo, a player of the lyre in a musical competition. This competition included a twist
of the winner being able to punish the loser in any way they want. This myth ends in three
different ways; the first being Hyginus's version, which tells the story of how Marsyas wins the
first round of the competition by getting the better of Apollon. Where everyone enjoyed the
melodies being produced from both instruments. Though, this version ends with Apollon
winning the competition because Apollon not giving up and inviting Marsyas to play the same
melody as Apollon. Though, this did not lend well with the flute which is why Apollon won in
