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The Story Of Apollo & Marsyas
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If the Greek myths agree about one thing, it is the foolish
Recklessness of challenging the gods. Arachne thought she was
A better weaver than the goddess Athene, and was turned into
A spider for her impudence. Few were punished as severely as
The satyr Marsyas, whose story should be a warning to us all
Mortal humans were not the only beings capable of exhibiting
Excessive pride. The goddess Athena's injured self-regard led
Indirectly, to the downfall of a conceited satyr called Marsyas
It all began when Athena proudly invented a new
Musical instrument, which she named the aulos
There was one problem with this splendid instrument. Whenever Athena
Played it, gorgeous as the music that emerged undoubtedly was
It elicited from her fellow Olympians nothing but roars of laughter
There was no way for Athena to get a good sound from it without
Blowing so hard that her cheeks bulged. To see this goddess
The very personification of dignity, going all pink and swelling
Up like a bullfrog was more than her disrespectful family could
Take without howling out loud. Wise as Athena was, and free
For the most part, of affectation and conceit, she was not
Entirely without vanity and could not bear to be mocked. After
Three attempts to win the gods over with the mellifluous sounds of
Her new instrument, she cursed it and cast it down from Olympus
The aulos fell to earth in Asia Minor, in the kingdom of Phrygia
Near the source of the Maeander River, whose winding course
Lends its name to all mazy wandering streams, where it was
Picked up by a satyr called Marsyas. As a follower of Dionysus
Marsyas was gifted with curiosity, as well as many more
Disreputable traits. He dusted the aulos off and blew into it
A small peep was the only result. He laughed and scratched
At the tickling buzz in his lips. He puffed and blew hard
Again until a long, loud musical note was produced. This
Was fun. He went on his way blowing and blowing until he
Could, after a surprisingly short time, play a real tune
Within a month or two, his fame had spread around all of Asia Minor