Taras (mythology)

Taras was the son of Poseidon and Satyrion, either a Tarentine nymph or a daughter of Minos.

[1] When Taras was shipwrecked, his father rescued him by sending a dolphin which he rode to traverse the sea from the promontory of Taenarum to the south of Italy.

Brought ashore, Taras founded Tarentum which was named in his honour.

[2] According to Pausanias, he was worshiped as a hero who named both the city and the river, Taras after himself.

[3] Note that a harbour close by Taranto is still called Torre Saturo (derived from Satyrion).