: He is frequently named as the first to use the harp or lyre accompanied by singing.

: Another account focuses on his role as a tutor. While teaching music to a young Heracles , Linus reprimanded the hero for his lack of skill. In a fit of rage, Heracles struck Linus with his own lyre, killing him. Artistic and Cultural Legacy

: Some legends, such as those from the Suda , credit him with transferring the alphabet from Phoenician into the Greek language.

Linus was a legendary musician, often described as the son of Apollo and a Muse—most commonly Urania or Calliope. He is credited with several cultural milestones:

: Even Homer's Iliad mentions a boy singing the Linus-song on the Shield of Achilles.