Aristeas

Aristeas was a semi-legendary Greek poet and miracle-worker, a native of Proconnesus in Asia Minor, c. 7th century BC. Herodotus records that Aristeas was able to travel in spirit while his body lay apparently dead.

Aristeas was supposed to have authored a poem called the Arismapea, giving an account of travels in the far North. There he encountered a tribe called the Issedonians, who told him of still more fantastic and northerly peoples: the one-eyed Arimaspi who battle gold-guarding gryphons, and the Hyperboreans among whom Apollo lives during the winter.

Centuries after his death, Aristeas appeared in Southern Italy to command that a statue of himself be set up and a new altar dedicated to Apollo.