ARION, (I) of Methymna, in Lesbos, a semi-legendary poet and musician, friend of Periander, tyrant of Corinth. He flour ished about 625 B.C. He is said to have invented the dithyramb, i.e., probably he gave it literary form. The name Cycleus given to his father indicates the connection of the son with the "cyclic" or circular chorus of the dithyramb. No genuine work of his survives. Of his life, only the following story in Herodotus (i. 23) and subsequent writers has come down. After a successful "tour" in Sicily and Magna Graecia he embarked at Taras (Tarentum) in a Corinthian vessel. The sight of his treasure roused the cupidity of the sailors, who resolved to possess themselves of it by putting him to death. Anion, as a last favour, begged permis sion to sing a parting song. The sailors, desirous of hearing so famous a musician, consented, and the poet, standing on the deck of the ship, in full minstrel's attire, sang a dirge accompanied by his lyre. He then threw himself overboard ; but instead of perish ing, he was miraculously borne up in safety by a dolphin, sup posed to have been charmed by the music. Thus he was con veyed to Taenarum, whence he proceeded to Corinth, arriving be fore the ship. Periander, at first incredulous, eventually learned the truth by a stratagem. Summoning the sailors, he demanded what had become of the poet. They affirmed that he had re mained behind at Tarentum ; upon which they were suddenly confronted by Anion himself, arrayed in the same garments in which he had leapt overboard. The sailors confessed their guilt and were punished. Anion's lyre and the dolphin were translated to the stars. Herodotus and Pausanias (iii. 25, 7) both refer to a bronze figure at Taenarum which was supposed to represent Anion seated on the dolphin's back. But this is quite as likely to be, e.g., Phalanthus, the founder ls) of Tarentum, on his dolphin. See Pausanias, x. 13, 1o.