Arion

Arion
/euh ruy"euhn/, n.
1. fl. 7th century B.C., Greek poet: inventor of the dithyramb.
2. Class. Myth. a winged horse often believed to be the offspring of Poseidon and Demeter.

* * *

Semilegendary Greek poet and musician.

He lived at Methymna on the island of Lesbos and is identified as the inventor of the dithyramb. He was sailing homeward after a performing tour when the sailors decided to kill him and steal his wealth. After singing a dirge for himself, he jumped overboard, but a dolphin charmed by his music carried him to shore. He reached Corinth before the ship; when the sailors arrived, the ruler Periander forced them to confess and punished them. Arion's lyre and the dolphin were placed in the heavens as the constellations Lyra and Delphinus.

* * *

▪ Greek poet and musician
      semilegendary Greek poet and musician of Methymna in Lesbos. He is said to have invented the dithyramb (choral poem or chant performed at the festival of Dionysus); that is, he gave it literary form. His father's name, Cycleus, indicates the connection of the son with the cyclic or circular chorus of the dithyramb. None of his works survive, and only one story about his life is known (reported by the historian Herodotus]).

      After a successful performing tour of Sicily and Magna Graecia, Arion sailed for home. The sight of the treasure he carried roused the cupidity of the sailors, who resolved to kill him and seize his wealth. Arion, as a last favour, begged permission to sing a song. The sailors consented, and the poet, standing on the deck of the ship, sang a dirge accompanied by his lyre. He then threw himself overboard; but he was miraculously borne up in safety by a dolphin, which had been charmed by the music. Thus he proceeded to Corinth, arriving before the ship. There Arion's friend Periander, tyrant of Corinth, eventually learned the truth by a stratagem. Summoning the sailors, he demanded what had become of the poet. Upon affirming that he had remained behind, they were suddenly confronted by Arion himself. The sailors confessed and were punished, and Arion's lyre and the dolphin became the constellations Lyra and Delphinus.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arion — ? Arion Arion ater …   Википедия

  • Arion — was a legendary kitharode in ancient Greece, a Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb. The islanders of Lesbos claimed him as their native son, but Arion found a patron in Periander, tyrant of Corinth. Although notable for his… …   Wikipedia

  • Arión — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Arión (desambiguación). En la mitología griega Arión (en griego antiguo Άρείων Areíôn, ‘mejor’, ‘más fuerte’, ‘más valeroso’) era un fabuloso caballo alado de pezuñas negras que …   Wikipedia Español

  • Arion — ist: eine Aktion der Europäischen Union für Entscheidungsträger im Bildungsbereich, siehe Arion (EU) ein legendärer Dichter und Sänger des antiken Griechenlands, siehe Arion von Lesbos das göttliche Pferd der griechischen Mythologie, das Poseidon …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Aríon — ARÍON, ŏnis, Gr. Ἀρίων, ονος. 1 §. Aeltern und Paterland. Nach einigen war sein Vater Cyklon, Aelian. H. A. lib. XIII. c. 45. A. Gell. N. A. lib. XVI. c. 18. Hygin. Fab. 194. nach andern aber selbst Neptun, der ihn mit der Nymphe, Oncäa, gezeuget …   Gründliches mythologisches Lexikon

  • Arion — Arion. Ein Meister des Gesanges und der Saiten, welcher die Dithyrambe erfand, und am Hofe des Periander zu Korinth lebte. Als er mit den durch seine Kunst auf einer Reise durch Italien und Sicilien erworbenen Schätzen wieder von Tarent nach… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • arion — ● arion nom masculin (de Arion, nom propre) Autre nom de la loche, mollusque ressemblant à une limace, sécrétant un mucus abondant et dont deux espèces, l une orangée et l autre noire, sont nuisibles aux cultures maraîchères. arion n. m. ZOOL… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Arion — Arion, IA U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 136 Housing Units (2000): 61 Land area (2000): 0.474903 sq. miles (1.229992 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.474903 sq. miles (1.229992 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Arion, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 136 Housing Units (2000): 61 Land area (2000): 0.474903 sq. miles (1.229992 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.474903 sq. miles (1.229992 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Arion — Arion, prop. n. In Greek legend, a fabulous horse, the offspring of Poseidon by Demeter (or, in other accounts, Gaea or a harpy) who to escape him had metamorphosed herself into a mare. It was successively owned by Copreus, Oncus, Heracles, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Arion — Arion,   griechischer Dichter und Musiker aus Methymna auf Lesbos, um 620 v. Chr.; gilt als Erfinder der Kunstform des Dithyrambos und damit als Wegbereiter der Tragödie. Besonders bekannt wurde Arion durch die schon von Herodot erzählte, dann… …   Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”