Telestes of Selinus (Τελέστης ὁ Σελινουντίος) was a Greek lyric poet active in the late 5th century BCE. He came from Selinus, a Doric colony in Sicily, and ancient sources place him as a contemporary of the poet Melanippides [1][2]. The Suda records that he was victorious in musical competitions, though other biographical details are scarce [1].

His work survives only in fragments. Telestes composed dithyrambs, hymns, and encomia; the titles of two dithyrambs, Argo and Asclepius, are preserved [1][2]. A few fragments of his poetry are quoted by later authors like Athenaeus [1][2].

Telestes is significant for his role in the evolution of the dithyramb. He is grouped with innovative poets like Philoxenus and Timotheus, who were criticized for introducing complex musical styles [2]. His dithyramb Argo is the earliest known treatment of the Argonautic myth in the genre, expanding its thematic range beyond Dionysiac subjects [1][2].

Sources 1. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-6287 2. Perseus Digital Library, Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aentry%3Dtelestes-bio-1