Timotheus (aulist)

Timotheus
a black figure vase depicting an aulos player.
Background information
Genres	Ancient Greek music
Occupation(s)	soloist
Instruments	Aulos
Years active	350s - 320s BC

Timotheus (Greek: Τιμόθεος) was a famous aulos player from Thebes, who flourished in Macedon during the reigns of Philip II and Alexander the Great. He later accompanied Alexander in his campaigns. After his death, a story about the effect of his music on Alexander became a familiar reference point in literature on the power of music to manipulate emotion.

According to Didymus he was the son of Oeniades. He participated in musical competitions under Philip. When Philip lost an eye after Timotheus and others had performed a flute song about the cyclops, this was interpreted as an omen.Athenaeus says that Timotheus was noted for his long beard.

According to Suda, a later Byzantine source, Timotheus excited the young Alexander so much with a battle hymn to Athena that he jumped from his seat and grabbed his weapons ready to fight, declaring that the music was kingly. Timotheus was apparently using the "steep-rising" style.

Timotheus joined Alexander in Memphis, Egypt where he took part in the musical competitions held there. He also performed at the mass-marriage organised by Alexander in Susa in 324.

He is the principal figure in Lucian's dialogue Harmonides, in which Timotheus discusses musicianship with Harmonides, a pupil of his. Harmonides wants to achieve fame. Timotheus advises him to impress the experts within his profession rather than seek popular approval in big public venues. If leading musicians admire him, popular approval will follow.

Dio Chrysostom, in a speech on ideal kingship addressed to Trajan, refers to the story of how Timotheus' music inspired martial thoughts in Alexander. For Chrysostom, Timotheus's skill was in "adapting his playing to the king's character by selecting a piece that was not languishing or slow nor of the kind that would cause relaxation or listlessness, but rather, I fancy, the ringing strain which bears Athena's name and none other." Other rulers, such as Sardanapalus who was of languid temperament, would not have responded to such music, but being of a highly volatile nature, Alexander did.