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Marʹsyas

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The Phrygian flute-player who challenged Apollo to a contest of skill, and, being beaten by the god, was flayed alive for his presumption. From his blood arose the river so called. The flute on which Marsyas played was one Atheʹna had thrown away, and, being filled with the breath of the goddess, discoursed most excellent music. The interpretation of this fable is as follows: A contest long existed between the lutists and the flautists as to the superiority of their respective instruments. The Dorian mode, employed in the worship of Apollo, was performed on lutes; and the Phrygian mode, employed in the rites of Cybʹelĕ, was executed by flutes, the reeds of which grew on the banks of the river Marsyas. As the Dorian mode was preferred by the Greeks, they said that Apollo beat the flute-player.

 

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Marry Come Up!
Mar’s Year
Mars
Mars
Marseillaise
Marseilles Good Bishop
Marsh [Le Marais]
Marshal
Marsham (Men of)
Marsiglio or Marsilius
Marsyas
Martano (in Orlando Furioso)
Marteau des Heretiques
Martel
Martello Towers
Martext (Sir Oliver)
Martha (St.)
Martial
Martian Laws
Martin
Martin

See Also:

Marsyas