Periander of Corinth (Περίανδρος ὁ Κορίνθιος) was the second tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty, ruling Corinth from c. 627 to 587 BCE [1]. Ancient sources, particularly Herodotus, portray a complex ruler whose reign began moderately but later turned oppressive, a shift traditionally linked to advice from Thrasybulus of Miletus [1][2]. His personal life was marked by violence, including the murder of his wife Melissa [1][2]. Despite this, his rule was a peak of Corinthian power; he initiated major projects like the diolkos (a ship-transport ramp) and the temple of Apollo, patronized poets such as Arion, and strengthened colonial and commercial interests [1][3].

No genuine writings survive. He is credited only with an attributed, non-extant letter to Thrasybulus, which belongs to the anecdotal tradition concerning his rule [1][2].

Periander is significant as an effective tyrant whose policies secured Corinth's prosperity and naval dominance [1][3]. His ambiguous inclusion among the Seven Sages of Greece—with an attributed gnome like "Practice makes perfect"—exemplifies the complex Greek reception of autocrats who combined practical wisdom with brutal authority [1][4].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: Periander: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Periander 2. World History Encyclopedia: Periander: https://www.worldhistory.org/Periander/ 3. Perseus Digital Library, Herodotus, Histories 5.92: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126:book=5:chapter=92 4. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Seven Sages: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/seven-sages/