Archytas (Ancient Greek: Ἀρχύτας) of Mytilene was a celebrated musician of ancient Greece. In his "Life of Archytas", Diogenes Laërtius says that there were four, perhaps five men of this name; Archytas of Tarentum, a polymath and disciple of Pythagoras, was the main subject of the biography, but Diogenes mentions Archytas of Mytilene second, and relates an anecdote about the musician: that once when criticized for speaking too softly, he replied, "my instrument speaks for me".[1]

In the Deipnosophistae, Athenaeus of Naucratis mentions that Archytas wrote an essay on flute playing, Περὶ Αὐλῶν (Peri Aulon, "about flutes"); but here the musician seems to be identified with Archytas of Tarentum. Athenaeus says that Archytas was a flute player, like many Pythagoreans.[2] Whether Peri Aulon is the work of the musician or the philosopher is uncertain.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ Diogenes Laërtius, "The Life of Archytas", v. (p. 370, trans. Yonge).
  2. ↑ Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae, 13.600 ff., iv. p. 184e (p. 286, trans. Yonge).
  3. ↑ Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, vol. I, p. 273 ("Archytas, of Mytilene").
  4. ↑ PW, "Archytas", No. 4.

Bibliography


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