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Ibykos,
the poet from Rhegium of Lower Italy (530 BC), was at the end of his
trip. He had departed from Samos and he was now visiting Corinth, where
he would compete in the musical contest.
From afar the towers of Acrocorinth could be seen, as he was entering
the sacred grove of Poseidon.
He was a very happy man at these moments and when a flock of cranes was
passing above the grove for their migration to the south said: "Good
luck friends. I take your presence as a good omen, we both travel as
companions for hospitality".
He was by now in the heart of the forest and he was walking on a narrow
pass, when two men, apparently robbers, appeared before him. Ibycos
could do nothing but to call for help, but in vain. As he was falling to
the ground fatally wounded, managed to say: "Take up my cause
cranes". These were his last words.
Not much later, his disfigured body was found and was recognized by the
friend who was expecting him as guest.
When the event was learned from the assembled Greeks ,it caused great
distress. It was a big blasphemy to gods and hospitality.
Some time later in the theater the socked by the event people were
hearing in deadly silence and deep awe, the voice of the Erinyes. "Happy
the man who has his soul pure from crime.. Those people we don't
touch.. but owe to him who secretly has committed crimes. We, the
fearful avengers of night, chase him till his disgraceful and unhappy
end".
Suddenly, a full of fear, weak voice but which was heard in the silence
of the theater, said: "Look, look comrade.. the cranes of
Ibycos". Indeed the sky was full of cranes and they were coming
towards the theater. It didn't take long for the lamenting for Ibycos
people to understand the significance of the uttered words and you could
hear in the voices "observe the power of Eymenides, Ibycos would
be avenged". Soon they sized the man who spoke and his
comrade.
Never had Justice been delivered in a better way. |
