Timotheus, born in Miletus in 446 BCE, was an Ancient Greek musician and a poet. According to the World History Encyclopaedia, music played an important role during this era in Greece, where the melodies of many instruments were enjoyed. However, it is difficult to imagine that a “new age” of music had been developed, Timotheus had redeveloped the Lyre by adding more strings. Stringed instruments seem to have been favoured by ancient Greek artists because they allowed the performer to sing along to the music they created.

The invention of the added extra strings had angered the more conservative musicians in Sparta and Athens, and Timotheus further angered the Spartans by adding four extra strings to the lute. His musical works were of a historical and mythological character, it would therefore be wonderful to imagine that these included the amusing myths of Apollo and Hermes and the tragic myth of Orpheus, reputed to be the son of Apollo, and his unfortunate wife Eurydice.

Hermes was the god of merchants, thieves, and travellers, but also cunning, and he certainly used trickery when he stole a herd of cows from the God Apollo. He made shoes for the cows which faced backwards, a crafty way to ensure that he wasn’t followed, as the cows appeared to be walking in the opposite direction. During his journey he sacrificed one of the cows to honour the gods but kept the entrails and with a tortoise or turtle shell created the Lyre.

Apollo eventually found Hermes and was completely enraged, but upon hearing the beautiful music created by the lyre, his anger faded so much that he traded his herd for the instrument. As with all mythology, there are variations to this story. However, Apollo is very frequently shown holding a lyre or a bow and arrow, as he was the god of music and archery among other things, but it was his reputed son Orpheus who entranced the world with his musical abilities.

Orpheus charmed everyone and everything with his beautiful music, including rocks, plants, and trees. When his wife Eurydice died, he even managed to charm Hades, the God of the underworld, for her life to be restored and return to earth. Hades agreed on the condition that Eurydice followed Orpheus back to earth, but he was not allowed to turn and look at her. Unfortunately, just before they were about to step back on earth, Orpheus stole a glance and lost her forever.

Orpheus was so grief-stricken he played a song of mourning on his lyre, calling for death so that he could be reunited with Eurydice. In many myths, upon his death, he was transformed into a swan and placed in the night sky. If you look towards the southeast horizon at twilight, you will see the Summer Triangle rising, the constellation Cygnus the Swan and next to it the Lyra the Lyre, with Aquila the Eagle completing the triangle.

It’s fascinating to read myths about how a simple musical instrument was invented and how it caused so much controversy in Ancient Greece by our innovational musician, Timotheus of Miletus.