Marsyas

In Greek mythology, Marsyas was a satyr who challenged Apollo to a contest of music. Marsyas found an aulos on the ground, the double-reed pipe invented by Athena, but rejected by her when she caught sight of her face bulging as she played. Since the contest was judged by the Muses, Marsyas naturally lost and was flayed alive in a cave near Calaenae in Phrygia for his hubris to challenge a god. His blood turned into the river Marsyas.

In the art of later periods, Marsyas is often seen with a flute, panpipes, or even bagpipes. Apollo is shown with his lyre, or sometimes a harp, viol, or other stringed instrument. The contest of Apollo and Marsyas is seen as symbolizing the eternal struggle between the Apollonian and Dionysian aspects of human nature.