Music To My Ears

Music To My Ears

Greek/Roman God Phoebus Apollo || Patron of Poetry, Music, Arts, Medicine, Archery, and Prophecies

Lore of Marsyas || Greek Mythology

"Aulos, I play.

The best one yet.

No angels or Gods could best me.

I dare Apollo to see

And admit His great defeat."

Apollo heard his backhanded prayer

And no insult shall go unheard.

So, the great God of Music and Poetry

Accepted his challenge

With his soul as payment.

"Play the Aulos, you fool.

And I shall play the lyre.

Let the muses decide

The victor of this round."

Music so great

Was played and heard.

The audience danced in a frenzy

And cheered ever so wildly.

Marsyas took the first round

and boasted he did.

But Apollo knew the secrets

to the soul and hearts

And strum he did with the Lyre

Each note brought tears to the eyes.

Memories of old

And unsung love songs of the world.

The crowd was moved by the song

and crowned the God as the victor.

Poor Marsyas was too late to realize

The debt was to be repaid.

Flayed alive he was―

Unmerciful the God was.

Let this be a lesson for you and me

Challenge a deity you do not

Especially the God of Music and Poetry

If another day is what you'd like to see.

***Fin***

P.S. Fun facts are right below

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Hi, I'm CyCy!

Thank you for reading. I truly appreciate it!

This poem/musical score came to me when I am supposed to be writing my other manuscript. But you know how that goes! The muses will sing whenever they feel like it.

Anyway, maybe one day, I will have enough to compile into a book.

What is the Marsyas Lore?

In the legendary musical contest between Apollo and Marsyas, the outcome would determine the treatment of the defeated. The Muses or the Nysean nymphs served as the judges.

Marsyas took the stage first. He skillfully and passionately played his flute (aulos) which drove the audience into a wild frenzy of dancing. However, when Apollo strummed his lyre, everyone was captivated and moved to tears.

Different versions of the contest exist. According to one account, Marsyas won after the initial round, but lost when Apollo cleverly turned his lyre upside down to play the same melody since this was a feat that Marsyas couldn't replicate on his flute.

Another version suggests that Apollo combined his melodic voice with the enchanting sound of the lyre and overpowered Marsyas. Marsyas argued that the comparison should be based solely on instrumental skill, not vocals.

However, Apollo countered by saying that when Marsyas blew into the pipes, it was akin to using his voice. The Nysean nymphs supported Apollo's argument which led to his victory.

The creation of wineskin

Yet another variation claims that Marsyas played the flute out of tune and willingly accepted his defeat. Out of shame, he chose the penalty of being flayed alive and turned into a wineskin.

Apollo carried out the punishment in a cave near Celaenae, since Marsyas dared to challenge a deity. To further humiliate Marsyas, Apollo nailed his flayed skin to a pine tree close to Lake Aulocrene, a body of water abundant with the reeds used to make the pipes.

Some sources suggest that Apollo eventually regretted his severe action and temporarily set aside his lyre.

The flaying of Marsyas became a popular subject in paintings and sculptures. Although the ancient Greeks were unaware of the shamanistic undertones associated with it.

Marsyas' death was mourned by his brothers, nymphs, gods, and goddesses. In Ovid's account, their collective tears formed the river Marsyas in Phrygia.

Herodotus reported that Marsyas' flayed skin was still visible near Celaenae, while Ptolemy Hephaestion mentioned a festival where the skins of all flayed victims were offered to Apollo.

Yeah, I know. It's crazy.

Lastly, Plato believed that Marsyas' skin had been transformed into a wineskin, adding another layer of symbolism to the tale.

In conclusion

Getting involved with the Deities can cause your grievance, or you may receive exceptional blessings. In this lore, we find out that the Deities are probably not the ones you mess with and they tend to follow the saying:

F*ck around and find out.

Proceed with caution.

P.S. Don't worry. I will always try to remind you. 🍀

Shout out to one of my faves, Phoebus Apollo 🖤

Thanks for singing these poems, guiding me with composing music, and showing me different types of art.

A true bestie here. xo

Anyway, come check out my other surreal poem(s) as well:

• I Heard You Calling My Name

• The Problem with Immortality

And my most recent ones: Pomegranate Lips & Gold For Me

• Pomegranate Lips

• Gold For Me

Thank you for being a part of my journey and life. I truly appreciate you all!

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