Taras (mythology)

Silver coin with taras

Taras (Greek: Τάρας), a son of Poseidon and the nymph Satyria, was a figure from Greek mythology .

According to legend, he was the founder of the Greek settlement Taras (Tarentum, today: Tarent ), a later leading power of Magna Graecia . While he was making a sacrifice to honor his father Poseidon, a dolphin suddenly appeared to him . He interpreted this as a good sign and as encouragement to start a city.

Even today a port about 15 km south of Taranto (near Leporano ) is called Torre Saturo. The name is derived from the first city ( Satyrion ) that Taras dedicated to his mother Satyria or his wife Satureia. This is where the first Spartan settlement emerged, the same that dates back to 706 BC Founded the city of Taranto. Rise and ancient splendor followed for the city.

On the coin of the old city of Taras the son of Poseidon is depicted on a dolphin, sometimes with his father's trident in one hand; the same image is presented on the modern city emblem.

See also

• Tarent
• History of Taranto
• Taranto coat of arms

literature

• Karl Buslepp : Taras . In: Wilhelm Heinrich Roscher (Hrsg.): Detailed lexicon of Greek and Roman mythology . Volume 5, Leipzig 1924, Col. 91-96 ( digitized version ).