Lesvos Culture #2
Music and poetry have always been among the favourite activities undertaken by the inhabitants of the island. Terpandros from Antissa, Arion from Mithimna who according to the myth – was singing travelling on the back of a dolphin and Koition from Mytilene, are some of the most renowned musicians of the antiquity. Although born in Antisa, Terpandros was artistically risen to prominence in Sparta where he founded a music school and won the music competition during the 26th Olympics around 676 – 673 B.C. The invention of the eight string lyre called “barbitos” as well as the perfection of a hymn entitled “Nomos” dedicated to the worship of Apollon are attributed to Terpandros. Arion succeeds Terpandros and continues his work. He unfolds his artistic talent in the court of Periandros in Korinthos and renders the choral song and especially the Dionysian dithyramb into a complex and artistic poetic and musical kind