
Greek mythology
Marsyas
The satyr who challenged Apollo and was flayed alive
- Mythology
- Greek mythology
- Group
- Mortal
- Appears in
- Apollo
Marsyas is a satyr who finds the flute Athena cast away and grows so skilled that he dares to challenge Apollo to a musical contest, lyre against pipes. The Muses judge the god the winner, and for his pride Apollo binds Marsyas to a tree and flays the skin from his living body. His blood, or the tears of the wood-spirits who mourn him, becomes a river.

Real episode from the app
Apollo
Chapter 1
00:00--:--
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Marsyas?
- Marsyas is a satyr who finds the flute Athena cast away and grows so skilled that he dares to challenge Apollo to a musical contest, lyre against pipes. The Muses judge the god the winner, and for his pride Apollo binds Marsyas to a tree and flays the skin from his living body.
- Which mythology does Marsyas belong to?
- Marsyas belongs to Greek mythology.
- Which stories does Marsyas appear in?
- Marsyas appears in Apollo, told as chaptered audio dramas in MythologyNow.
Cite this page
APA
MythologyNow. (2026). Marsyas. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/marsyasMLA
"Marsyas." MythologyNow, 2026, https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/marsyas.Chicago
MythologyNow. "Marsyas." Accessed 2026. https://www.mythologynow.app/en/gods/marsyas.