Marsyas is a river of Phrygia, flowing by the city Celaenae, and
formerly called the fountain of Midas for this reason. Midas, king of
Phrygia, travelling in the remoter parts of the country, and wanting
water, stamped upon the ground; and there presently appeared a golden
fountain. But the water proving gold, and both he and his soldiers
being ready to perish for thirst, he invoked the compassion of Bacchus,
who listening to his prayers supplied him with water. The Phrygians
having by this means quenched their thirst, Midas named the river that
issued from the spring the Fountain of Midas. Afterwards it was called
Marsyas, upon this occasion.
Marsyas being overcome and flayed by Apollo, certain Satyrs are said to
have sprung from the stream of his blood; as also a river bearing the
name of Marsyas;—as Alexander Cornelius recites in his Third Book of
Phrygian Relations.
But Euemeridas the Cnidian tells the story after this manner. It
happened that the wine-bag which was made of Marsyas’s skin, being
corroded by time and carried away negligently by the wind, fell at last
from the land into Midas’s well; and driving along with the stream, was
taken up by a fisherman. At what time Pisistratus the Lacedaemonian,
being commanded by the oracle to build near the place where the relics
of the Satyr were found, reflected upon the accident, and in obedience
to the oracle having built a fair city, called it Noricum, which in the
Phrygian language signifies a wine-bag.
In this river grows an herb called the pipe, which being moved in the
wind yields a melodious sound;—as Dercyllus reports in his First Book
of Satyrics.
Near to this river also lies the mountain Berecyntus, deriving its
name from Berecyntus, the first priest to the Mother of the Gods. Upon
this mountain is found a stone which is called machaera, very much
resembling iron; which if any one happens to light upon while the
solemnities of the Mother of the Gods are performing, he presently runs
mad;—as Agatharchides reports in his Phrygian Relations.