by Amy Lou
|
Talk at the barber shop has proven worthy once more. The musical competition between Pan and Apollo had more results than the reported victory of Apollo. As the people of Phrygia know, our King was honored by the god by him choosing King Midas as the judge of the competition. Reasoning behind Apollo choosing King Midas is his pupilship under the famed musician Orpheus. However, although Apollo and Orpheus play the lyre, King Midas decided in favor of Pan, who plays the flute. Apollo clearly disagreed with the chosen judge and showed his opinion of the decision by bestowing distinguishing characteristics: ass’s ears. This transformation was kept hidden by the decision of the king to start wearing a purple turban (McGovern). This royal scandal was uncovered in an almost just as unusual sort of way.
The Royal reporter stopped in at the palace of King Midas of Phrygia in order get notes over the state of the kingdom. However, the King refused to come out making claims that his cap was not fitting or working. A bit confused and curiosity definitely piqued, the reporter asked different servants where the King had been last. Not thinking the information requested was of high secrecy, they said the King had just returned from the royal barber.
Upon finding the royal barber, the Royal reporter had much trouble in getting the barber talk. In fact, the reporter had to talk to a reed arising from a hole dug and filled by the barber. The reporter also used an unnamed wood nymph as a reliable source who listened in on the troubles of the Royal barber.
The story gathered is that the King came into the barber with a very shaggy mane and in desperate need of a haircut. However, when the barber asked him to remove his cap, the King refused saying the barber would have to cut his hair as best he could with the king wearing the cap. Confused, but never doubting a king, the barber proceeded with the requested haircut. All was well until the barber lifted one side of the cap to keep the cut even. The King frantically slammed the cap back down, but it was too late. The barber had already seen the ass ears on the King. The King demanded secrecy from the barber, which of course the barber agreed. Nonetheless, such odd and big news is hard to keep in one mind, so the barber dug a hole, whispered into it, "King Midas has ass's ears.", and went on in a much more peaceful state. Unbeknownst to him was the reed that grew out of the hole, whispering the secret, and the eavesdropping nymph, who filled in the details for the Royal reporter (Perseus/Midas).
The Royal reporter found the competition by Apollo to be rather interesting and so took off for the oracle at Delphi to get further information. Upon much prayer, and fasting, the reporter was made known another competition the lyre-playing Apollo competed in. This competition involved a satyr by the name of Marsyas. Apollodorus and Hyginus gave the most detailed report. Apparently, Athena first attempted the flute, but threw it to the side when she saw how the playing of it distorted her facial features. Marsyas picked up the pieces and mastered it, to the point that he felt confident enough to challenge Apollo. Apollodorus’s account had no mention of judges, but Hyginus stated that the Muses were the judges. The first round of the competition was actually awarded to Marsyas, but since Apollo could play his lyre upside-down and Marsyas could not change the position of his instrument, the victory went to Apollo (Nizynska).
As reported, in the competition between Pan and Apollo, the judge, King Midas, actually appears to be the biggest loser. However, our famed historian Ovid writes that the competition between Marsyas and Apollo had the most dreadful outcome since the victor was allowed to decide the fate of the loser. Ovid writes that,
... someone recalled the satyr who,
defeated at playing the Tritonian flute, was
punished by the son of Leto:
"Why are you peeling me from myself?" he cries.
"Ah! Mercy! Ah!" he screams "the flute is not worth such pain!"
As he screams, his skin is torn away from the surface of his
limbs, and he was nothing unless a wound; blood flows
everywhere; the sinews, uncovered, lie exposed, trembling veins
quiver without any skin. You could count the pulsing intestines
and gleaming entrails in his breast.
The country dwellers and forest spirits, the fawns and
his brother satyrs
wept for him. Then, too, did his beloved Olympus
and the nymphs and anyone who pastured fleecy flocks
or horned cattle in those mountains.
The fertile earth grew moist with tears and when it
was saturated
accepted the falling drops and drank them into its
deepest veins.
Then she turned them into water and sent them forth to
transparent air.
From this place a stream rushes down the sloping banks.
It carries the name of Marsyas, the clearest of all
Phrygian rivers. (
Nizynska)
As pointed out earlier, the King’s decision for Pan in the contest seemed a bit out of place. However, our King is also an astute follower of Dionysus, and as a Phrygian, uses the flute in worship (Perseus/Marsyas). The Royal has decided that the judgment issued by Apollo on the King was the reason for the King’s slight change in religious practice. Although not foregoing Dionysus completely, the King has established rites for our own Phrygian goddess, Matar. He is inscribing them on a great stone monument in the highlands for all to view (Simpson).
Other activity noted by the Royal reporter has been a big bustle in the kitchen and brewery. The cooks have been ordered to start a feast including a spicy lentil along with either barbecued sheep or goat stew. The brewery has been order to make a mix drink of barley, mead, and wine (McGovern). The reasoning behind this feast hasn’t been announce but the servants at the palace report the king has been acting strange and reminiscent since his secret has gotten out.
DeVries, Keith. Gordion. Expedition; 2000, Vol. 42 Issue 1, p18
McGovern, Patrick. Meal for Mourners. Archaeology, Jul/Aug2001, Vol. 54 Issue 4, p28.
Nizynska, Joanna. Marsyas's Howl: The Myth of Marsyas in Ovid's Metamorphoses and Zbigniew Herbert's "Apollo and Marsyas. Comparative Literature, Spring2001, Vol. 53 Issue 2, p151, 19p.
Simpson, Elizabeth. Celebrating MIDAS. Archaeology; Jul/Aug2001, Vol. 54 Issue 4, p27.
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0062%3Aid%3Dmidas
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0062%3Aid%3Dmarsyas