Histories

After the loss of his son, Croesus remained in deep sorrow for two years. After this time, the destruction by Cyrus son of Cambyses of the sovereignty of Astyages son of Cyaxares, and the growth of the power of the Persians, distracted Croesus from his mourning; and he determined, if he could, to forestall the increase of the Persian power before they became great.

Having thus determined, he at once made inquiries of the Greek and Libyan oracles, sending messengers separately to Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, to Abai [22.9583,38.5917] (Perseus)Abae in Phocia, and to Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona, while others were despatched to Amphiaraus and Trophonius,[*](That is, to the oracular shrines of these legendary heroes.) and others to Didyma [27.233,37.35] (historic site), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Branchidae in the Milesian country.

These are the Greek oracles to which Croesus sent for divination: and he told others to go inquire of Ammon in Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya. His intent in sending was to test the knowledge of the oracles, so that, if they were found to know the truth, he might send again and ask if he should undertake an expedition against the Persians.

And when he sent to test these shrines he gave the Lydians these instructions: they were to keep track of the time from the day they left Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, and on the hundredth day inquire of the oracles what Croesus, king of Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia, son of Alyattes, was doing then; then they were to write down whatever the oracles answered and bring the reports back to him.

Now none relate what answer was given by the rest of the oracles. But at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, no sooner had the Lydians entered the hall to inquire of the god and asked the question with which they were entrusted, than the Pythian priestess uttered the following hexameter verses:

1. “I know the number of the grains of sand and the extent of the sea,
2. And understand the mute and hear the voiceless.
3. The smell has come to my senses of a strong-shelled tortoise
4. Boiling in a cauldron together with a lamb's flesh,
5. Under which is bronze and over which is bronze.”

Having written down this inspired utterance of the Pythian priestess, the Lydians went back to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis. When the others as well who had been sent to various places came bringing their oracles, Croesus then unfolded and examined all the writings. Some of them in no way satisfied him. But when he read the Delphian message, he acknowledged it with worship and welcome, considering Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi as the only true place of divination, because it had discovered what he himself had done.

For after sending his envoys to the oracles, he had thought up something which no conjecture could discover, and carried it out on the appointed day: namely, he had cut up a tortoise and a lamb, and then boiled them in a cauldron of bronze covered with a lid of the same.