Arion

Arion of Lesbos ( Ἀρίων ancient Greek ) was a Greek singer and poet in the 7th century BC

Origin

He came from Mithymna on Lesbos, but spent much of his life as an artist at the court of the tyrant Periander of Corinth ( 600 BC ), where he achieved great fame and wealth.

Merit

Arion developed the dithyramb, originally part of the Dionysus cult, perfected to an art form, a choir with secular texts, from which eventually developed the Greek tragedy. He is also the inventor of Choirs kyklischen. Of the songs and poems, which he is said to have written, none is received.

Myth

From the Life of Arion nothing is known except for a legend that attributed first to Herodotus (I, 23 f ) the singer: In order to increase his reputation in foreign countries, attended Arion Sicily, where he became a celebrated winner of a singer rivalry and with riches heaped on his way home.

His treasures aroused the envy of the boat people who introduced him to the choice to jump overboard or be murdered. However, they granted his wish to sing one last song. As Arion sang his song, soon a group of dolphins appeared at the ship, then the singer plunged into the water. One of the dolphins was Arion on his back until he safely reached the land at Tainaron and was able to continue his journey home to Corinth. There the criminal Seamen awaited their punishment, but the dolphin honor, a memorial was erected. The constellation Delphin was interpreted in some traditions as Arion, riding on a dolphin which was transferred from Apollo, the god of music, to the sky.