Corinth

The city of Corinth was situated on the coast of Corinthian Gulf, at the western side of the isthmus. Corinth was originally called Ephyra, and the region around Corinth was called Ephyraea. The citadel in Corinth was called Acrocorinth.

The city was founded by the sun god Helius and left to his son Aeëtes. However, Aeëtes left Corinth for Colchis. Bunus ruled in his place. Corinthus renamed Ephyra to Corinth. The most famous ruler of Corinth as well as the most notorious ruler was Sisyphus, son of Aeolus. (See Aeolids in Corinth for the family tree).

According to Pausanias, Helius and Poseidon vied over the city as patron god of the city. Either Briareus, one of the Hundred-Handed, acted as judge, or the citizens who feared to offend either god voted on the issue. Whoever they elected, it was decided that Poseidon would receive Isthmia or Isthmus and Helius would recieve the Acrocorinth. Both gods were worshipped in Corinth.

See the Aeolids in Corinth, for the history of the city of Corinth.

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Historically, Corinth was known as a cultural and commercial centre, and it did most of its trade in the west. Colonists from Corinth founded the city of Syracuse in Sicily, in 734 BC.

In the 7th century BC, Periander, son of Cypselus, succeeded his father as a tyrant of Corinth. Periander was listed as one of the Seven Wise Men. It was during Periander's reign that Corinth enjoyed its greatest height, commercially and culturally, but he was a ruthless despot. He established a rich trade with Lydia and Egypt. Corinthian painting on pottery was much sought after. Periander, himself, wrote some verses.

Periander was also known as the patron of the poet and singer, Arion of Lesbos. Arion was said to have invented the style of choral poem, known as the dithyramb. The historian Herodotus wrote about the legend of their friendship.

Arion decided to travel to Italy and Sicily, where he was awarded a great deal of money for competing in music contests. The captain and his crew of a Corinthian ship were supposed to return him to Corinth, but they decided to rob Arion of his winnings.

At sea, Arion discovered their intention to kill and rob him. Arion offered to give all of his money if they would spare him, but they refused. However, the captain agreed to Arion's last request, which was to play one last song.

So Arion dressed in his costume and went to the prow of the ship, where he played his lyre and sung his last song. Before the song ended, Arion leaped overboard into the sea. The captain thought that the singer would eventually drown since his ship was far from the sight of land. So the ship sailed away, heading towards Corinth.

But fate was kind to the singer, because a dolphin nearby was enchanted by Arion's music, and rescued him. Arion rode on its back, as the dolphin swam all the way to Taenarum, in the Peloponnese. Arion then walked all the way to Corinth, ahead of the ship of the villainous crew. Arion informed the tyrant of their treachery.

Later, when the ship arrived, Periander questioned the captain about Arion, who assured him that the singer was still in Tarentum (in southern Italy). The crew were terrified when they saw the singer appearing in the same costume that he was wearing when he jumped overboard. They admitted to being guilty of robbing and attempting to kill Arion, so the captain and his entire crew were executed.

The Roman mythographer Hyginus also wrote about Arion's adventure. He said that Apollo immortalised the dolphin for saving the singer by placing the constellation of the dolphin in the sky, called Delphinus.