Histories

These weigh thirty talents[*](The “Attic” talent had a weight of about 58 lbs. avoirdupois, the “Aeginetan” of about 82.) and stand in the treasury[*](Many Greek states had special “treasuries” allotted to them in the temple precincts at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, in which their offerings were deposited.) of the Corinthians; although in truth it is not the treasury of the Corinthian people but of Cypselus son of Eetion. This Gyges then was the first foreigner whom we know who placed offerings at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi after the king of Phrygia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Phrygia, Midas son of Gordias.

For Midas too made an offering: namely, the royal seat on which he sat to give judgment, and a marvellous seat it is. It is set in the same place as the bowls of Gyges. This gold and the silver offered by Gyges is called by the Delphians “Gygian” after its dedicator.

As soon as Gyges came to the throne, he too, like others, led an army into the lands of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus and Smyrna [27.1667,38.4167] (Perseus) Smyrna; and he took the city of Colophon [27.1333,38.1167] (Perseus) Colophon. But as he did nothing else great in his reign of thirty-eight years, I shall say no more of him, and shall speak instead of Ardys son of Gyges, who succeeded him. He took Priene [27.2833,37.6333] (Perseus) Priene and invaded the country of Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus; and it was while he was monarch of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis that the Cimmerians, driven from their homes by the nomad Scythians, came into Asia (continent)Asia, and took Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, all but the acropolis.

Ardys reigned for forty-nine years and was succeeded by his son Sadyattes, who reigned for twelve years; and after Sadyattes came Alyattes,

who waged war against Deioces' descendant Cyaxares and the Medes, drove the Cimmerians out of Asia (continent)Asia, took Smyrna [27.1667,38.4167] (Perseus) Smyrna (which was a colony from Colophon [27.1333,38.1167] (Perseus) Colophon), and invaded the lands of Klazomenai [26.7833,38.3167] (Perseus)Clazomenae. But he did not return from these as he wished, but with great disaster. Of other deeds done by him in his reign, these were the most notable: