In the twelfth year, when the Lydian army was burning the crops, the fire set in the crops, blown by a strong wind, caught the temple of Athena called Athena of Assesos,A small town or village near Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus. and the temple burned to the ground.

For the present no notice was taken of this. But after the army had returned to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, Alyattes fell ill; and, as his sickness lasted longer than it should, he sent to Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi to inquire of the oracle, either at someone's urging or by his own wish to question the god about his sickness.

But when the messengers came to Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, the Pythian priestess would not answer them before they restored the temple of Athena at Assesos in the Milesian territory, which they had burnt.