Marsyas in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Marsyas

6 passages from 3 ancient authors that tell of Marsyas, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Marsyas was a satyr in Greek mythology, and he played an important role in two myths. In one myth, he played the aulos masterfully, a double-piped re... For the story in one place, read our article on Marsyas.

Apollodorus (1)

Apollodorus, The Library (Bibliotheca), with the Epitome 1.4.1–5Leto, Apollo and Artemis; Python, Marsyas and OrionAsteria flees Zeus and becomes the island Delos, where the hunted Leto bears Artemis and then Apollo. Apollo takes over the oracle at Delphi by killing the snake Python, kills Tityus for assaulting Leto, and has Marsyas flayed after a musical contest. Artemis kills Orion on Delos, and two reasons are given, a challenge at quoits or violence against the Hyperborean maiden Opis; the section ends with Poseidon's children by Amphitrite.

Ovid (1)

Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.313–411The Lycian peasants; Marsyas; PelopsAfter Niobe's fate men worship Leto (Latona) more zealously, and one recalls the peasants of Lycia, who refused Leto water to drink when she came, wandering with her twins, and who were turned into frogs. Another tells of the satyr Marsyas, who challenged Apollo to a contest on the pipes and was flayed alive for his presumption. Pelops, the brother of Niobe, mourns for her, and his ivory shoulder, which the gods made for him after Tantalus served him up at a banquet, is shown.

Pausanias (4)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.30.1–9Delphi: Polygnotus' painting of the underworld (3): the daughters of Pandareos, Phocus, Orpheus and ThamyrisPausanias continues the underworld painting with the daughters of Pandareos, Antilochus, Agamemnon, Protesilaus, Achilles and Patroclus, and Phocus giving a signet to Iaseus. He describes Maera, Actaeon with his mother and hound, and Orpheus seated in the grove of Proserpine beside the willows and Promedon. He ends with Schedius, Pelias, the blind Thamyris with his broken lyre and Marsyas teaching Olympus to play the flute.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.7.1–9Sicyon: Dorian rule, roadside tombs and the sanctuaries of Dionysus and PersuasionSicyon became Dorian, Demetrius son of Antigonus moved the city to its old acropolis, and an earthquake later damaged it. Pausanias describes the tomb of Lycus the Messenian, the Sicyonian style of burial, the grave of Eupolis, the tomb of Xenodice, the Dripping Spring, and the theatre with a statue said to be Aratus. He then describes the temple of Dionysus and its night procession, the ruined temple of Artemis of the Lake, the sanctuary of Persuasion with its legend of Apollo and Artemis, and the temple of Apollo with the flutes of Marsyas.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.24.1–8Athens Acropolis: Zeus Polieus, the Parthenon and Phidias’ AthenaPausanias lists sculptures on the Acropolis showing Athena and Marsyas, Theseus and the bull, Phrixus, Hercules and the serpents, and Athena’s birth, and describes the ox sacrifice to Zeus Polieus. He then describes the Parthenon: the gable sculptures, Phidias’ ivory and gold Athena with her sphinx and griffin helmet, the Victory, shield, serpent and the birth of Pandora on the pedestal. He ends with the bronze Locust Apollo.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 8.9.1–10Mantinea: temples, the grave of Arcas and the cult of AntinousPausanias describes the double temple of Aesculapius and Latona at Mantinea, with Praxiteles' images of Latona's children and the Muses and Marsyas, and lists the sanctuaries of Zeus, the Dioscuri, Demeter and Hera. He quotes the Delphic oracle that told the Mantineans to bring the bones of Arcas from Maenalus, and notes the tomb of Antinoe and that of Grylus, son of Xenophon. He also covers the temple of Aphrodite Alliance, the worship of Antinous introduced by Hadrian, and the contested honours of the hero Podares.