Tmolus

Tmolus, also known as Tymolus or Timolus, is a figure from Greek mythology. He is most famously associated with Mount Tmolus in Lydia, a region in modern-day Turkey. In some myths, Tmolus is depicted as a king of Lydia and the father of the legendary king Tantalus, although this lineage is not universally consistent across all ancient sources.

One of the most prominent stories involving Tmolus concerns his role as a judge in a musical contest. He was chosen to arbitrate a competition between the god Apollo and the satyr Marsyas. The contest, held on Mount Tmolus itself, was to determine who was the superior musician. Apollo played his lyre, while Marsyas played the aulos, a type of ancient reed instrument. The outcome of this contest is often depicted as Apollo's victory, with Marsyas suffering a brutal punishment for his audacity in challenging a god.

In other accounts, Tmolus is presented as a river god, son of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. This interpretation connects him to the natural landscape of Lydia, with the river Tmolus, also known as Gediz, flowing through the region. His association with the mountain and river highlights his deep connection to the Lydian land. The name Tmolus itself may derive from the Lydian word for "high mountain."