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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)
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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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The Punishment of Marsyas
Statue in red marble depicting the punishment of Marsyas, a satyr who dared challenge Apollo to a music contest. Marsyas lost and Apollo had him tied to a tree and flayed him alive. The statue was found at the Villa Vignacce in southeastern...
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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
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...
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A Visual Who's Who of Greek Mythology
Achilles The hero of the Trojan War, leader of the Myrmidons, slayer of Hector and Greece's greatest warrior, who sadly came unstuck when Paris sent a flying arrow guided by Apollo, which caught him in his only weak spot, his heel...
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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Marsyas, detail from NAM, Athens, 215.
Detail of Marsyas from NAM, Athens, 215. The bearded satyr can be seen in a state of movement as he plays his auloi, the spread of his fingers is preserved by the left hand, and presumably corresponds to the finger-holes of the instrument