PHILAMMON IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​Philammon was a noted musician spoken of in Greek mythology; a son of Apollo, Philammon would learn much of his skill from his father. 

Philammon Son of Apollo

Philammon is generally named a son of Apollo and Chione; Chione being a daughter of Daedalion. Occasionally, Philammon’s mother is named as Leuconoe, daughter of the Morning Star, Heosphoros.
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Where Chione is named though, Philammon is thus twin brother of Autolycus, although by different fathers, for it was said that Hermes and Apollo both slept with Chione on the same night. 

Philammon Father of Thamyris

Philammon would become father to a son, Thamyris, another legendary musician, when he was seduced by the Naiad nymph Argiope, because of his looks. Once Argiope was pregnant though, Philammon would have nothing to do with her, and so Argiope left her home and made a new one in Thrace, where Thamyris was born. 

Philammon and the Pythian Games

Aside from being handsome Philammon was a musician of great repute, and it was said that Philammon was the second winner of the musical contest at the Phythian Games; succeeding Chrysothemis.

The Pythian Games were held at Delphi and Philammon was celebrated as the person who introduced the hymns that celebrated the births of Leto, Artemis and Apollo, which were performed at Delphi in antiquity. 

The Heroic Philammon

Philammon was said to have some heroic attributes as well; and this resulted in him being named as one of the Argonauts, although not by any of the main sources. In these less common sources, Orpheus is normally replaced with Philammon. 
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These same heroic attributes are also to be seen when the death of Philammon is described, for the musician was said to have died in the defence of Apollo’s sanctuary at Delphi was it was attacked and plundered by the Phlegyans

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Philammon - 9th November 2019