Methymna on Lesbos
The second in importance city on the island, today as in antiquity, Methymna
(now usually referred to as Molyvos) is
located on the north coast facing Asia Minor and the entrance to the Gulf of Adramytteion. 
It is the birthplace of the famous singer-poet Arion, who served on the court of the sage-king
Periander of Corinth, and whose beautiful voice and lyre are engulfed in mythology. A most
charming part of that cycle is the tale of his rescue by the dolphins, after having been
tossed overboard by some crooked sailors. Inspired by his music, dolphins came to his rescue and rode
him to the safety of land. A scarce silver issue of his home town shows Arion with a lyre
riding a dolphin, and the same image served as a mintmark for the cities coinage during
later Alexandrian times.