Aulos: The Haunting Music of Homer's Odyssey
A New York Times article explores the aulos, a double-reed instrument depicted throughout Greek art in military and domestic scenes, as the likely source of the haunting music described in Homer's Odyssey, particularly the Sirens' song. The instrument, resembling two recorders joined at the player's mouth and blown simultaneously, would have produced an eerie, penetrating sound. The piece examines how ancient Greek music, reconstructed from archaeological and literary evidence, offers new insights into the auditory experience of epic poetry. The article was published on July 25, 2026.
Key facts
- The aulos appears throughout Greek art in military and domestic scenes.
- The aulos looks like two recorders joined at the player's mouth, blown simultaneously.
- The instrument is linked to the haunting music in Homer's Odyssey.
- The article was published in The New York Times on July 25, 2026.
- The aulos is a double-reed instrument.
- The article discusses the Sirens' song in the Odyssey.
- Ancient Greek music is reconstructed from archaeological and literary evidence.
- The aulos would have produced an eerie, penetrating sound.
Entities
Institutions
- The New York Times