Histories

For six of these eleven years Sadyattes son of Ardys was still ruler of Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia, and it was he who invaded the lands of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus, for it was he who had begun the war; for the following five the war was waged by Sadyattes' son Alyattes, who, as I have indicated before, inherited the war from his father and carried it on vigorously.

None of the Ionians helped to lighten this war for the Milesians, except the Chians: these lent their aid in return for a similar service done for them; for the Milesians had previously helped the Chians in their war against the Erythraeans.

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.