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Marsyas
Marsyas the satyr, or silen, was seen as a mythological founder of aulos playing or a divine judge of it by the ancient Greeks. The way in which his aulos playing enraptured his audience was likened to the way in which Socrates mesmerised...
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Marsyas
A marble statue of Marsyas, he who, in Greek mythology, challenged Apollo to a music contest and was flayed alive for his audacity. Found in Rome, early Roman imperial age copy of a 2nd century BCE Greek original. (Capitoline Museums, Rome)
Definition
Satyr
Satyrs (aka silens) are figures from Greek mythology who were followers of the god of wine Dionysos. Satyrs were often guilty of excessive sexual desires and overindulgence of wine. Men with a horse's tail and ears or men with goat legs...
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Apollo and Marsyas
National Archaeological Museum, Athens, 215. 330-20 BCE. This relief slab is one of four that made up the revetment of a pedestal (only three survive), and was found at Mantineia, Arcadia. The pedestal either acted as a base for a statue...
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Statue of Marsyas from Tarsos
Marsyas was the Phrygian satyr who was skinned alive when he challenged Apollo to a musical contest and lost. Marsyas was usually sculpted alone, as an isolated statue. However, this statue was found as part of a group of statues, depicting...
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Head of Marsyas
The head belongs to a statue from a group composition, which probably represented the musical contest between Apollo and the Silenus Marsyas. Marsyas' painted facial expression shows that he is starting to realize the full implication of...
Definition
Apollo
Apollo was a Greek god associated with the bow, music, and divination. The epitome of youth and beauty, source of life and healing, patron of the arts, and as bright and powerful as the sun itself, Apollo was perhaps the most loved of all...
Definition
Midas
Midas was a mythical king of Phrygia in Asia Minor who was famous for his extraordinary ability to change anything he touched into gold. This gift was given to him by Dionysos in thanks for his hospitality to the wise satyr Silenus. Midas...
Definition
Ancient Greek Music
Music (or mousike) was an integral part of life in the ancient Greek world, and the term covered not only music but also dance, lyrics, and the performance of poetry. A wide range of instruments was used to perform music which was played...
Definition
Greek Mythology
Greek mythology was used as a means to explain the environment in which humankind lived, the natural phenomena they witnessed and the passing of time through the days, months, and seasons. Greek myths were also intricately connected to religion...