Thamyras

, or Thamyris , a celebrated musician of Thrace. His father’s name was Phil ammon, and his mother’s Argiope. He became enamoured of the Muses, and challenged them to a trial of skill. His challenge was accepted, and it was mutually agreed that the conqueror should be totally at the disposal of his victorious adversary. He was conquered, and the Muses deprived him of his eyesight and his melodious voice, and broke his lyre. His poetical compositions are lost. Some accused him of having first introduced into the world the unnatural vice of which Sotades is accused. Homer , Iliad , bk. 2 , li. 594 ; bk. 5 , li. 599 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 1 , ch. 3 .— Ovid , Amores , bk. 3 , poem 7, li. 62 ; Ars Am at or i a , bk. 3 , li. 399 .— Pausanias , bk. 4 , ch. 33 .