person
Polycrates of Samos
Polycrates
also: Polycratem Samium, Polycrates, Polycrates of Samos
The tyrant of Samos (ruled c. 538-522 BC), proverbially fortunate; the story of the ring he threw into the sea and recovered in a fish is told by Herodotus. Cicero cites him in De Finibus 5.92 as one whose great misfortunes (crucifixion by Oroetes) were buried under his folly, since a tyrant could not be happy.
Reading notes
- On the Ends of Good and Evil §5.92 Polycrates of Samos fortunate
Polycrates, tyrant of Samos, was proverbially lucky; the tale of his ring, thrown into the sea and found inside a fish, is told by Herodotus. He was later lured to the mainland and crucified by the Persian satrap Oroetes.