Periander of Corinth was the second tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty, ruling from approximately 627 to 587 BCE. Ancient sources, particularly Herodotus, depict a complex ruler whose reign began moderately but later turned oppressive, a shift traditionally attributed to advice he received from Thrasybulus of Miletus. His personal life was marked by violence, most notably the murder of his wife Melissa.

Despite this, his rule represented a peak of Corinthian power and prosperity. He initiated major public works, including the diolkos, a paved trackway for transporting ships across the Isthmus of Corinth, and the temple of Apollo. He was a patron of the arts, supporting poets such as Arion, and he actively strengthened Corinth's colonial and commercial interests, securing its naval dominance.

No genuine writings of Periander survive. He is credited only with an attributed, non-extant letter to Thrasybulus, which belongs to the anecdotal tradition concerning his rule. Periander is significant as an effective tyrant whose policies ensured Corinth's wealth and influence. His ambiguous inclusion among the Seven Sages of Greece—along with an attributed maxim like "Practice makes perfect"—exemplifies the complex Greek reception of autocrats who combined practical wisdom with brutal authority.