The Tyrants of Corinth: Legends of Cypselus and Periander [Hardcover]

The Tyrants of Corinth?is the first monograph in English devoted to the archaic tyranny of Corinth and the engaging legends of Cypselus and Periander, which embrace such themes as hidden babies, animal-helpers, arbitrary violence, necrophilia and vengeful ghosts.

Daniel Ogden is Professor of Ancient History in the University of Exeter, UK. His recent books include The Legend of Seleucus, The Dragon in the West, The Werewolf in the Ancient World, The Strix-Witch and (as editor) The Cambridge Companion to Alexander the Great.

Introduction; 1. The birth of Cypselus: The 'birth-of-the-hero' story-type; 2. The birth of Cypselus: The sterility story-type; 3. Periander and Melissa: the grateful dead and the lost deposit; 4. Periander, Melissa and Arion: Nekyomanteion Tales; 5. Periander, Crateia, Thrasybulus and Lycophron: how Periander became a sage; Conclusion; Appendix A: The Cypselids: repertorium of sources in translation; Appendix B: Family Trees of the Cypselids; Appendix C: Four Afterlives of Periander: Tracy, Weguelin, Opperman and Hermans.

The Tyrants of Corinth is the first monograph in English devoted to the archaic tyranny of Corinth and the engaging legends of Cypselus and Periander, which embrace such themes as hidden babies, animal helpers, arbitrary violence, necrophilia and vengeful ghosts.

This detailed study of the ancient sources for the Corinthian tyrants analyses the tales associated with them comprehensively from the perspective of folklore and traditional narrative, including the miraculous birth and deliverance of Cypselus, Perianders consultation of the ghost of his wife, Melissa, at the Acheron Oracle of the Dead and the saving of the bard Arion from thel“K