Friday Art Find: Marsyas

Marsyas, a satyr from the free land of ancient Phrygia, played the double-reeded aulos with melissai and loving skill. He inspired lively dancing and discussion, a liberated being who lived and loved deeply.

The aulos was a Phrygian instrument that required circular breathing and great skill and effort to play. In a cruel twist of ego, a god-hero who ruled in the Greek pantheon at the time accused Marsyas of hubris. As punishment, which the accuser took upon himself to carry out, he violently executed Marsyas out of jealousy and rage. Sadly the story passed down has been skewed to misrepresent this event as just.

We send love to Marsyas and the spirits of Phrygia.

Written in collaboration with Phrygian Princess Daos Theryssia, Blackthorn the naiad, and others.