Ancient Greek Music

Muses The Muses, the personification of

knowledge and the arts, especially literature, dance and music, are the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne(personification of memory).

John Milton, opening of Book 1 of Paradise Lost Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Brought death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, Sing, Heavenly Muse, [...]

In modern English usage, muse (non capitalized but deriving from the classical Muses) can refer in general to a person who inspires an artist, writer, or musician

pythagoras [ pai'θæɡəræs; pi- ]

Greek philosopher and mathematician; considered to be the first true mathematician (circa 580-500 BC)

毕达哥拉斯

天体音乐古希腊的哲学家毕达哥拉斯最早提出“天体音乐”一词。在他发现音乐的音程比数之后，他认为，天体中各个行星的距离也是按音程比数确定的，它们的运动于是产生音乐。也即是，音乐的基础是数学，音乐是天体运动和秩序的反映。这本身也是一个哲学观念。

Aristoxenus

Aristoxenus was a Greek physician and music theorist. 亚里士多塞诺斯

Dionysus (/daɪ.əˈnaɪsəs/; the god of the grape harvest, fertility

and wine. 酒神，狄俄尼索斯。

Amphion Builds the Walls of Thebes(底比斯城） by the Music of his Lyre

Amphion(安菲翁 )and his twin brother, Zethus, were the sons of Zeus and Antiope. Persecuted by her father, Antiope sought refuge at Sicyon. Soon after, Lycus conquered Sicyon and made Antiope his prisoner. She shortly thereafter gave birth to Amphion and Zethus. They were left to die on Mount Cithaeron but were found and raised by shepherds. After many years Antiope escaped from Lycus, who now reigned over Thebes, and rejoined her twin sons. The sons then attacked Thebes, killing Lycus. Amphion and Zethus then proceeded to fortify the city: Zethus carried the stones while Amphion, with the magical music produced from his lyre, caused the stones to move of their own volition and gently slide into place atop the walls.

Orpheus /ˈɔrfiːəs/ a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in

ancient Greek religion and myth. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music, his attempt to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, from the underworld.

Hermes and Apollo (half brothers)

Hermes was known to be a cunning trickster, stealing things from the other gods and hiding them in unbelievable locations!

Back in the days when Hermes was still an infant, he once went out his cradle and started an adventure to steal the cattle from his half-brother Apollo.

Hermes discovered the herd very soon. One by one, he started pulling the hoofs out of the cows’ feet and re-attaching them in the reverse order. The same he did to his own sandals. Then he took the herd, which now seemed to be walking backwards and hid the herd inside a cave in Mount Cyllene.

Apollo soon found out that his herd was missing and started searching all around. The traces he saw on his way were nothing but confusing and led the god to despair.

Of course, Apollo was the god of prophecy, so he soon found out the thief and went furiously to Mount Cyllene to find Hermes in his cave. Little Hermes was peacefully sleeping inside his cradle, but Apollo grabbed the infant and took him up to Mount Olympus to be judged by their master Zeus, the king of the gods.

Zeus found the story quite amusing so he didn't punish Hermes, he only asked from him to return the herd. Regretful of what he had done, Hermes then offered Apollo his lyre as a present. The lyre was a musical instrument Hermes had created all by himself out of the shell of a tortoise. Apollo was pleased and forgave Hermes.

Apollo vs. Marsyas Marsyas challenged Apollo to a music

contest. In their contest, Apollo and Marsyas took turns on their music performance. Although Apollo is the god of music, he faced a worthy opponent. Apollo finally won, and Marsyas paid for his hubris by being pinned to a tree and flayed alive.

Apollo vs. Pan Pan, the Greek god of shepherds and nature in Greek

mythology, was a great musician who is known for his invention of the syrinx, or Greek pan flute. The sound of his pipes was so sweet that he grew proud, and believing himself greater than the chief musician of the gods, Apollo, the sun-god, he challenged Apollo to a musical duel. Apollo consented to the test, for he wished to punish Pan's vanity, while overlooking his own well-known arrogance. Pan and Apollo chose the mountain Tmolus to be the judge of the contest, since no one is so old and wise as the hills.

First Pan played; he blew on his pipes, and out came a tune so wild and yet so coaxing that the birds hopped from the trees to get near; the squirrels came running from their holes; and the very trees swayed as if they wanted to dance. The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the melody tickled their furry little ears.

Then Apollo rose, and in his hands he held his golden lyre. When he touched the strings of the lyre. The wild creatures of the wood crouched still as stone; the trees kept every leaf from rustling; earth and air were as silent as a dream. When Apollo stopped playing, it was like bidding farewell to one's father and mother.

When the spell of Apollo's music was broken, the hearers fell at Apollo's feet and proclaimed him the winner.

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