The Ourea were primordial mountain nymph, but they weren’t youthful, slender, nymph like figures. They looked like old men of the mountain. There were ten, Aitna, Athos, Helikon, Kithairon, Nysos, Olympus 1, Olympus 2, Oreios, Parnes, and Tmolus, each belonging to their own mountain region. For the most part, the Ourea were children of Gaia that she made…without assistance. The exception to this was Tmolus.

Tmolus was a son of Ares and Theogone. As a mountain, he was considered as old and wise as the hills. When Pan and Apollo had their musical duel (think The Devil Went Down to Georgia. Pan foolishly challenged Apollo to a duel and they each brought along followers to listen. First Pan played and the tune was so lively, that forest creatures frolicked and danced along. It was like one of the cutesy, disney side-kick songs.

Then Apollo played the divine equivalent of Let it Go with his lyre and the earth held its breath in wonder until the last note faded into the cosmos. All the votes went to Apollo, except for Pan’s follower Midas. As a reward for his stupidity, Midas was given the ears of a donkey so no one would take his opinion seriously anymore.