Editing Apollo (section)

===God of music===

[[File:The music of the spheres.jpg|thumb|The music of the spheres. Shown in this engraving from Renaissance Italy are Apollo, the Muses, the planetary spheres and musical ratios.]]
[[File:Apollo,_Hyacinthus_and_Cyparis_singing_and_playing_by_Alexander_Ivanov.jpg|left|thumb|Apollo, [[Hyacinth (mythology)|Hyacinth]] and [[Cyparissus]] singing and playing, by [[Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov|Alexander Ivanov]] 1831–1834]]
Immediately after his birth, Apollo demanded a lyre and invented the [[paean]], thus becoming the god of music. As the divine singer, he is the patron of poets, singers and musicians. The invention of string music is attributed to him. [[Plato]] said that the innate ability of humans to take delight in music, rhythm and harmony is the gift of Apollo and the Muses.<ref>[[Plato]], ''[[Laws (Plato)|Laws]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0166%3Abook%3D2%3Apage%3D653 653.4]</ref> According to [[Socrates]], ancient Greeks believed that Apollo is the god who directs the harmony and makes all things move together, both for the gods and the humans. For this reason, he was called ''Homopolon'' before the ''Homo'' was replaced by ''A''.<ref>The prefix ''A'' means "without" or "not", and ''polloi'' means "many", thus ''Apollo'' means "not many" or "united", referring to his ability to create harmony.</ref><ref>[[Plato]], ''[[Cratylus (dialogue)|Cratylus]]''</ref> Apollo's harmonious music delivered people from their pain, and hence, like Dionysus, he is also called the liberator.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The swans, which were considered to be the most musical among the birds, were believed to be the "singers of Apollo". They are Apollo's sacred birds and acted as his vehicle during his travel to [[Hyperborea]].<ref name="ReferenceA" /> [[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]] says that when the singers would sing hymns to Apollo, the swans would join the chant in unison.<ref>[[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]], ''On the nature of Animals'' 11. 1</ref>

[[File:Parnassus, Andrea Appiani (1811).jpg|thumb|Apollo and the Muses on Parnassus, by [[Andrea Appiani]]|left]]

Among the [[Pythagoreanism|Pythagoreans]], the study of mathematics and music were connected to the worship of Apollo, their principal deity.<ref>[[Claudius Aelianus|Aelian]], ''[[Varia Historia]]'', 2. 26</ref><ref>[[Diogenes Laërtius]], 8.13</ref><ref>[[Iamblichus]], ''Vit. Pyth.'' 8.91.141</ref> Their belief was that music purifies the soul, just as medicine purifies the body. They also believed that music was delegated to the same mathematical laws of harmony as the mechanics of the cosmos, evolving into an idea known as the [[music of the spheres]].<ref>Landels, John G (1999) ''Music in Ancient Greece and Rome''</ref>

Apollo appears as the companion of the [[Muses]], and as [[Musagetes]] ("leader of Muses") he leads them in dance. They spend their time on [[Parnassus]], which is one of their sacred places. Apollo is also the lover of the Muses and by them he became the father of famous musicians like [[Orpheus]] and [[Linus of Thrace|Linus]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Apollo is often found delighting the immortal gods with his songs and music on the [[lyre]].<ref>Iliad (i. 603)</ref> In his role as the god of banquets, he was always present to play music at weddings of the gods, like the marriage of [[Eros]] and [[Cupid and Psyche|Psyche]], [[Peleus]] and [[Thetis]]. He is a frequent guest of the [[Bacchanalia]], and many ancient ceramics depict him being at ease amidst the [[maenads]] and satyrs.<ref>Detienne, Marcel (2001) ''Forgetting Delphi between Apollo and Dionysus''</ref> Apollo also participated in musical contests when challenged by others. He was the victor in all those contests, but he tended to punish his opponents severely for their [[hubris]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

====Apollo's lyre====
[[File:Detail of the statue of Apollo holding the kithara, from the Temple of Venus (Casino Fede) at Hadrian's Villa, Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket (12233881783).jpg|thumb|upright=.7|Detail of Apollo's lyre|left]]
The invention of the lyre is attributed either to [[Hermes]] or to Apollo himself.<ref>{{cite web|title=Homeric Hymn to Hermes (IV, 1–506)|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3atext%3a1999.01.0138%3ahymn%3d4|website=Perseus|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref> Distinctions have been made that Hermes invented lyre made of tortoise shell, whereas the lyre Apollo invented was a regular lyre.<ref>Diodorus Siculus{{Incomplete short citation|date=December 2021}}</ref>

Myths tell that the infant Hermes stole a number of Apollo's cows and took them to a cave in the woods near [[Pylos]], covering their tracks. In the cave, he found a [[tortoise]] and killed it, then removed the insides. He used one of the cow's intestines and the tortoise shell and made his [[lyre]].{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

[[File:Noël Coypel - Story of Apollo-Apollo and Mercury, 1688.jpg|thumb|The friendship of Apollo and Hermes, by [[Noël Coypel]]]]

Upon discovering the theft, Apollo confronted Hermes and asked him to return his cattle. When Hermes acted innocent, Apollo took the matter to Zeus. Zeus, having seen the events, sided with Apollo, and ordered Hermes to return the cattle.<ref>Hard, [https://books.google.com/books?id=r1Y3xZWVlnIC&pg=PA162 p. 162].</ref> Hermes then began to play music on the lyre he had invented. Apollo fell in love with the instrument and offered to exchange the cattle for the lyre. Hence, Apollo then became the master of the lyre.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

According to other versions, Apollo had invented the lyre himself, whose strings he tore in repenting of the excess punishment he had given to [[Marsyas]]. Hermes' lyre, therefore, would be a reinvention.<ref>{{cite book|first=Norman O.|last=Brown|title=Hermes the Thief: The Evolution of a Myth|year=1947 |isbn=0-940262-26-6|location=Madison|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|page=93}}</ref>

====Contest with Pan====

[[File:Laurits Regner Tuxen The-Musical-Dual-Of-Pan-And-Apollo.jpg|thumb|The musical duel of Pan and Apollo, by [[Laurits Tuxen]]]]

Once [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]] had the audacity to compare his music with that of Apollo and to challenge the god of music to a contest. The mountain-god [[Tmolus (son of Ares)|Tmolus]] was chosen to umpire. Pan blew on his pipes, and with his rustic melody gave great satisfaction to himself and his faithful follower, [[Midas]], who happened to be present. Then, Apollo struck the strings of his lyre. It was so beautiful that Tmolus at once awarded the victory to Apollo, and everyone was pleased with the judgement. Only Midas dissented and questioned the justice of the award. Apollo did not want to suffer such a depraved pair of ears any longer, and caused them to become the ears of a donkey.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

====Contest with Marsyas====

[[Marsyas]] was a [[satyr]] who was punished by Apollo for his [[hubris]]. He had found an [[aulos]] on the ground, tossed away after being invented by [[Athena]] because it made her cheeks puffy. Athena had also placed a curse upon the instrument, that whoever would pick it up would be severely punished. When Marsyas played the flute, everyone became frenzied with joy. This led Marsyas to think that he was better than Apollo, and he challenged the god to a musical contest. The contest was judged by the [[Muse]]s, or the nymphs of [[Nysa (mythology)|Nysa]]. Athena was also present to witness the contest.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

Marsyas taunted Apollo for "wearing his hair long, for having a fair face and smooth body, for his skill in so many arts".<ref name="Apuleius, Florida 3.2">Apuleius, ''Florida'' 3.2</ref> He also further said,

{{blockquote|'His [Apollo] hair is smooth and made into tufts and curls that fall about his brow and hang before his face. His body is fair from head to foot, his limbs shine bright, his tongue gives oracles, and he is equally eloquent in prose or verse, propose which you will. What of his robes so fine in texture, so soft to the touch, aglow with purple? What of his lyre that flashes gold, gleams white with ivory, and shimmers with rainbow gems? What of his song, so cunning and so sweet? Nay, all these allurements suit with naught save luxury. To virtue they bring shame alone!'<ref name="Apuleius, Florida 3.2"/>}}

The Muses and Athena sniggered at this comment. The contestants agreed to take turns displaying their skills and the rule was that the victor could "do whatever he wanted" to the loser.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}

[[File:05apol1.jpg|thumb|The contest between Apollo and [[Marsyas]], by [[Palma il Giovane]]|left]]

According to one account, after the first round, they both were deemed equal by the [[Nysiads]]. But in the next round, Apollo decided to play on his lyre and add his melodious voice to his performance. Marsyas argued against this, saying that Apollo would have an advantage and accused Apollo of cheating. But Apollo replied that since Marsyas played the flute, which needed air blown from the throat, it was similar to singing, and that either they both should get an equal chance to combine their skills or none of them should use their mouths at all. The nymphs decided that Apollo's argument was just. Apollo then played his lyre and sang at the same time, mesmerising the audience. Marsyas could not do this. Apollo was declared the winner and, angered with Marsyas' haughtiness and his accusations, decided to flay the satyr.<ref name="ReferenceD">Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 75. 3</ref>

[[File:Marsyas Flayed by the Order of Apollo - Charles André van Loo (1735).jpg|thumb|Marsyas flayed by the order of Apollo, by [[Charles-André van Loo]]]]

According to another account, Marsyas played his flute out of tune at one point and accepted his defeat. Out of shame, he assigned to himself the punishment of being skinned for a wine sack.<ref>Philostratus the Younger, Imagines 2 (trans. Fairbanks)</ref> Another variation is that Apollo played his instrument upside down. Marsyas could not do this with his instrument. So the Muses who were the judges declared Apollo the winner. Apollo hung Marsyas from a tree to flay him.<ref>''Man Myth and Magic'' by Richard Cavendish</ref>

Apollo [[flaying|flayed]] the limbs of Marsyas alive in a cave near [[Celaenae]] in [[Phrygia]] for his [[hubris]] to challenge a god. He then gave the rest of his body for proper burial<ref>[[Gaius Julius Hyginus|Hyginus]], ''[[Fabulae]]'' [https://topostext.org/work/206#165 165].</ref> and nailed Marsyas' flayed skin to a nearby pine-tree as a lesson to the others. Marsyas' blood turned into the river Marsyas. But Apollo soon repented and being distressed at what he had done, he tore the strings of his lyre and threw it away. The lyre was later discovered by the Muses and Apollo's sons [[Linus of Thrace|Linus]] and [[Orpheus]]. The Muses fixed the middle string, Linus the string struck with the forefinger, and Orpheus the lowest string and the one next to it. They took it back to Apollo, but the god, who had decided to stay away from music for a while, laid away both the lyre and the pipes at Delphi and joined [[Cybele]] in her wanderings to as far as [[Hyperborea]].<ref name="ReferenceD"/><ref>Apostle Arne Horn, ''The Book of Eusebius'' #4</ref>

====Contest with Cinyras====

Cinyras was a ruler of [[Cyprus]], who was a friend of [[Agamemnon]]. Cinyras promised to assist Agamemnon in the Trojan war, but did not keep his promise. Agamemnon cursed Cinyras. He invoked Apollo and asked the god to avenge the broken promise. Apollo then had a [[lyre]]-playing contest with [[Cinyras]], and defeated him. Either Cinyras committed suicide when he lost, or was killed by Apollo.<ref>[[Homer]], ''[[Iliad]]'', [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134%3Abook%3D11%3Acard%3D1 11.20&ndash;23].</ref><ref>Eustathius on Iliad; cf. also scholia on the same passage</ref>

[[File:Apollon Raon Versailles MV5921.jpg|thumb|Apollon Raon, [[Versailles]]]]