Demonax | Hellenic Library Beta

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Lyra Graeca Volume I. Translated by Edmonds, J M. Loeb Classical Library Volume 28. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1922.

====== Arion: Poems ======


Herodotus Histories 1. 23 :

Periander was despot of Corinth. During his lifetime, according to the Corinthians – and indeed the Lesbians – a very marvellous thing took place, namely the rescue of Arion of Methymna from the sea at Taenarum by a dolphin. This Arion was the finest singer to the lyre then known, and is the first recorded composer of dithyrambs, which he named and trained Corinthian choirs to perform. It seems that he spent most of his life at the court of Peirander; but one day conceiving a desire to visit Italy and Sicily, he did so, and some times afterwards, having made large sums of money there, determined to return to Corinth. Accordingly he set sail from Tarentum, chartering a vessel manned by Corinthians, a people whom he thought, of all men, he could trust. But when they reached the open sea the crew conspired to secure his money by throwing him overboard . . . Putting on al his harper’s dress and grasping his lyre, he took his stand in the stern-sheets, and went through the Orthian or High-pitched Nome from beginning to end. Then he threw himself just as he was, dress and all, into the sea. The crew continued their voyage to Corinth; but meanwhile a dolphin, it seems, took Arion upon his back and carried him ashore at Taenarum . . .
There is a small bronze votive-offering of Arion on the promontory of Taenarum, consisting of a man upon a dolphin’s back.

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Proclus Chrestomathy p. 320 :

According to Pindar the dithyramb was invented at Corinth, and we are told by Aristocles that the originator of this song was Arion, the first trainer of the cyclic or circular chorus.

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Eusebius Chronicle Ol. 40. 4 :

Fourth year of the 40th Olympiad (B.C. 617): Flourished Arion of Methymna, who was rescued by a dolphin off Taenarum.

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Scholiast on Aristophanes Birds 1403 :

[cyclic-chorus-trainer]: Antipater and Euphronius . . . declare that the cyclic or circular choruses were first assembled by Lasus . . . The earlier authorities, however, namely Hellanicus and Dicaearchus, ascribe their origin to Arion of Methymna, the former in his List of Carnean Victors and the latter in his Treatise on the Musical Contests.

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Suidas Lexicon :

Arion: Of Methymna, lyric poet, son of Cycelus, floured in the 38th Olympiad (B.C. 628-625). According to some authorities he was a pupil of Alcman. He composed songs, namely two Books of Preludes to Epic poems. He is also said to have been the inventor of the tragic style, and to have been the first to assemble a chorus, to sing a dithyramb, to give that name to the song of the chorus, and to introduce Satyrs speaking in metre.

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Vide Luc. D.M. 8, Strab. 13. 618, Paus. 3. 25. 7, Ael. N.A. 12. 45 quotes the hymn of thanks to Poseidon ascribed to Arion ; this hymn being of much later date will be found in vol. iii; for other refs. See Pauly-Wiss. Real-Encycl.