Thamyris

Thamyris was a mythical bard. Thamyris was the son of Philammon and a nymph named Argiope. He was the grandson of Apollo and Chione.

Thamyris was said to be the lover of Hyacinthus, before Apollo. Thamyris was possibly the first mortal to love a person of the same sex.

Thamyris was a gifted musician and singer. His instrument was the lyre, and he won a contest as the best singer in the land. In his vanity, he dared to challenge the Muses. The winner of the contest could do whatever they liked to the loser. Thamyris lost a contest to the Muses. The Muses punished Thamyris by taking away his sight and his ability to sing. Thamyris was probably also punished in Tartarus.

According to Hyginus, Thamyris was probably placed among the stars as the "Kneeler" (Engonasin is the ancient name of this constellation, though this constellation is now called Hercules), which represented him kneeling as the suppliant. It is also possible that the constellation of the Lyre might have been his lyre.