ABSTRACT
A man of Methymna on the island of Lesbos; son of Cycleus. He was, to some extent, a historical figure-a great musician and a friend and protégé of Periander, tyrant of Corinth (625 to 585 BC). He went to Italy and Sicily where he was honoured and won rich prizes; but the traditions about him are partly mythical. It was said that he took ship at Taras (Tarentum) for Corinth, to return to Periander’s court, and that when the ship was at sea he was bound by the sailors, who intended to rob him. As a final favour they allowed him to stand on the afterdeck of the ship, dressed in his poet’s robes, and to play his lyre for the last time. Having sung a hymn to Apollo, he threw himself into the sea whereupon a dolphin, enchanted with his playing, carried him on its back as far as Taenarum in the Peloponnese. From there he travelled overland and reached Corinth before the ship. When it arrived, Periander, disbelieving Arion’s story, questioned the captain, who declared that Arion had stayed behind in Italy. But then he appeared, to the consternation of sailors, who were crucified by Periander.
