Legend of Marsyas

Many ancient Greek and Roman myths have rather unpleasant endings for at least one of the characters involved, and the legend of Marsyas is no exception. The general storyline states that the goddess Athena once discarded a wind instrument made from reeds called an aulos which was found by a man (also often depicted as a faun) named Marsyas. He became an expert at playing it and then challenged the god Apollo to a music contest. The Muses declared Apollo the winner and the unfortunate Marsyas was tied to a tree and flayed alive. Some versions say that Marsyas was the true winner but Apollo cheated and the Muses were biased. Either way, it didn’t end well for Marsyas, who became the subject of many sculptures and paintings throughout the centuries.

Marsyas became a symbol of liberty and free speech in ancient Rome and a statue of him stood in the Roman Forum for at least 300 years. Furthermore, other places throughout Italy and Europe adopted the figure of Marsyas to represent the common people against the government (equated with Apollo) during times of political tension.

Red Marsyas

Hanging Marsyas

Two statues of Marsyas reside in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy: the Hanging Marsyas and Red Marsyas. Both sculptures depict him hanging with his hands tied above him to a tree trunk. However, the Hanging Marsyas is still waiting for his punishment while the Red Marsyas is displaying the results of his consequences. The use of purple-veined pavonazzetto marble gives parts of the figure a red, raw, skinless appearance which helps the viewer to envisage the gruesomeness of the myth.

The objective of most depictions of Marsyas seems to be to convey his agony and a sense of sadness. Many paintings show him in physical torture as he is being skinned alive or in psychological agony as he fearfully awaits his punishment while a figure next to him (usually Apollo) prepares to execute it. One particularly graphic painting called Flaying of Marsyas (L. Giordano, 1695) actually illustrates Marsyas screaming as the skin is cut from his arm. Statues such as Apollo Flaying Marsyas (Antonio Corradini, 1700’s) portray this act in a three-dimensional medium.

Flaying of Marsyas

Apollo Flaying Marsyas

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• "Hanging Marsyas." On the Hanging Marsyas Comments. Friends of the Uffizi Gallery. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. http://www.friendsoftheuffizigallery.org/on-the-hanging-marsyas/&gt.
• "L.Giordano, Schindung Des Marsyas." "" Picture Art Prints and Posters by AKG Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. http://www.artflakes.com/en/products/l-dot-giordano-schindung-des-marsyas.