Polycrates

Tyrant of Samos c. 540–522 BC. He established an effective navy of over 100 ships and was master of the Aegean basin. He was also a promoter of ambitious building projects, and patron of poets such as Anacreon. He was crucified by the Persians in about 522 BC.

The story is told that in order to ward off disaster, he must throw away his most precious possession. He threw his favourite ring into the sea but it was returned to him in the belly of a fish.