Linus of Thrace

In Greek mythology Linus (Ancient Greek: Λῖνος Linos "flax") was a reputed musician and master of eloquent speech. He was regarded as the first leader of lyric song. Family Linus' parentage was given as follows: (1) Muse Calliope and Oeagrus or Apollo, (2) Muse Urania and Apollo, (3) Urania and Amphimarus, son of Poseidon, (4) the river-god Ismenius, (5) Urania and Hermes, (6) Muse Terpsichore and Apollo, (7) Muse Clio and Magnes, (8) Pierus, (9) Apollo and Aethusa, daughter of Poseidon, and lastly (10) Apollo and Chalciope. With various genealogy given, Linus was usually represented as the brother of another musician Orpheus. Some accounts instead makes the latter his great-grandson through Pierus, father of Oeagrus. Biography Linus may have been the personification of a dirge or lamentation (threnody), as there was a classical Greek song genre known as linos, a form of dirge, which was sometimes seen as a lament for him. This would account for his being the son of Apollo and a Muse, and by which fact, Linus was also considered the inventor of melody and rhythm or of dirges (thrênoi) and songs in general. Thus, he was called "pantoiês sophiês dedaêkôs" by Hesiod. Either he or his brother Orpheus was regarded as the inventor of the harp; otherwise Linus was credited to be the first to use the harp accompanied with singing. From his father Apollo, he received the three-stringed lute. During the Hellenistic period, Alexandrine grammarians even regarded Linus as a historical personage and according to a legend, he was known as the writer of apocryphal works in which he described exploits of the god Dionysus and other mythical legends. With these, he was among other mythical authors, like Musaeus and Orpheus, of Pelasgic writings. Diogenes Laertius ascribes to him several poetical productions, such as a cosmogony on the course of the sun and moon, on the generation of animals and fruits, and the like. His poem begins with the line: "Time was when all things grew up at once;.."