Hyagnis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Hyagnis (Ὑαγνίς) was a Phrygian satyr credited by some ancient sources as the inventor, or at least an early developer, of the aulos, a double-pipe wind instrument. He was said to be the father of Marsyas, the satyr who famously challenged Apollo to a musical contest. Other accounts identify Marsyas's father differently, such as Olympus, but the paternity attributed to Hyagnis underscores his association with Phrygian musical traditions. Hyagnis's role is primarily as a legendary figure associated with the origins of music, specifically the aulos, and through Marsyas, a figure central to musical rivalries and the clash between Phrygian (eastern) and Greek (Apollonian) musical styles. He is less commonly mentioned in wider narratives beyond the realm of musical mythology.