Greek Myths XS: Arion and the Dolphins
Saved by Song
When the famous bard and lyre player Arion came back to Corinth after a succesful tour, he was robbed by the crew of the ship that he had booked. The sailors took all his earnings, and gave him a choice: to unalive himself, or jump straightaway into the sea. A desperate Arion chose the second option, but asked if he could sing just one last time. He put on his show costume, took his lyre, and gave the most moving performance of his life. It attracted the attention of all sealife in the neighbourhood, and brought his assailants to tears, but didn’t change their mind about his fate. So, when the song ended, he threw himself into the sea. Unknown to the sailors however, he was picked up by a dolphin, and was brought safely to shore. He told his story to the king of Corinth, but couldn’t convince him that it truly happened. So, they waited for the ship to arrive, and when the sailors announced they left Arion safely in Italy, it was clear they were lying, and Arion’s story was true. He and his dolphin are everywhere, from vase paintings to fresco’s, and it was the most beloved bedtime tale for little Greeks and Romans.
Arion, Gustave Moreau, Petit Palais, Paris, France
Arion, Ernest Eugène Hiolle, Musée Orsay, Paris, France
Did you know?
Terms such as “strophe” and “antistrophe” are part of modern songwriting. They descend from ancient Greek theatre: half of the chorus would turn one way (“strophe”) and the other half would answer, while turning the other way (“antistrophe”).