Athena had made a double flute from the bones of a stag. She decided to play it at a banquet. However, during the time when she was playing the flute, Hera, and Aphrodite were laughing at her. Athena couldn’t understand why they were laughing, since the music from the flute was so beautiful. Later, when Athena watched her reflection in the river as she played, she discovered why Hera and Aphrodite were laughing. When she blew on the flute, her cheeks flushed. Embarrassed, Athena threw the flute away and laid a curse on anyone who picked it up. Unfortunately, Marsyas picked up the flute and when he started playing it, its melody was that of Athena’s. He became famous for the wonderful music he played with the flute and traveled from town to town, charming the villagers. Some people said that his music was even greater than that of Apollo’s. When Apollo heard this, he was outraged. He challenged Marsyas to a competition where the loser was at the complete mercy of the winner. At first, both Apollo and Marsyas played their instruments equally well, but then Apollo started singing and playing with his lyre and asked Marsyas to do the same. However, it was impossible for Marsyas to sing and play the flute at the same time and consequently, he lost. Apollo decided to nail Marsyas to a pine tree and let him die there. This myth was meant to serve as an example to mortals that they should never compete with gods.
Marsyas finds Athena's Flute
