Syrinx in the Musical Culture of Ancient Greece

The syrinx (ἡ σῦριγξ) or panpipe is one of the oldest woodwind musical instruments. Many studies have shown that this multi-pipe flute was an important part of the pastoral culture in ancient Greece. Here, it is described what the traditional syrinx looked like. An overview is given of the most common materials used in syrinx production. The study has a special focus on the σῦριγξ μονοκάλαμος, which is thought to be the simplest fipple flute, and explores the question of whether it can be termed as the syrinx monokalomos when referring to the musical culture of the polis period. The results obtained during the analysis of ancient written (epic and lyric poetry, as well as works of tragedians of the archaic and classical periods) and pictorial (vase painting of the 6th–4th centuries B.C.) sources reveal how the syrinx was used in ancient Greece apart from the pastoral music: it was played, often in combination with other musical instruments, during ritual rites, such as weddings (in hymeneal songs), funerals, and paean performances, or for pleasure (during leisure activities).