Two trumpets for Athena Ilias

These two dedicatory epigrams are by poets of the Hellenistic age, when Greek superpowers warred on each other almost without pause.

The cult of Athena Ilias was by then already ancient, and from the fourth century BC a 'Confederation of Athena Ilias' celebrated a Panathenaic festival at Ilium (Troy), attested by coin finds (an article by Aneurin Ellis-Evans sums up what is known). Miccus is from Macedonia, and leaves his trumpet a long way from its native Italy.

6.195, by Archias, is a variant on Tymnes' poem.

6.151 (on YouTube)

TYMNES

Miccus of Pella hung this booming horn,

The war-god’s, in Athena Ilias’ shrine:

Etruscan instrument, through which that man

Many a bygone time did bellow out

The siren calls of parley and of war.

6.159 (on YouTube)

ANTIPATER OF SIDON

I am a trumpet, that in former time

Gushed forth the bloody war-song in the fight

And issued too the sweet refrain of peace.

And here I hang, your gift, Pherenicus,

To the Tritonian maid: for I have ceased

From roaring out the bellowing clarion.