Histories

But the Phoenicians do not tell the same story about Io as the Persians. They say that they did not carry her off to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt by force. She had intercourse in Argos [22.7333,37.6417] (Perseus) Argos with the captain of the ship. Then, finding herself pregnant, she was ashamed to have her parents know it, and so, lest they discover her condition, she sailed away with the Phoenicians of her own accord.

These are the stories of the Persians and the Phoenicians. For my part, I shall not say that this or that story is true, but I shall identify the one who I myself know did the Greeks unjust deeds, and thus proceed with my history, and speak of small and great cities of men alike.

For many states that were once great have now become small; and those that were great in my time were small before. Knowing therefore that human prosperity never continues in the same place, I shall mention both alike.

Croesus was a Lydian by birth, son of Alyattes, and sovereign of all the nations west of the river Halys River (river), Turkey, Asia Halys, which flows from the south between Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria and Paphlagonia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Paphlagonia and empties into the sea called Black Sea [38,42] (sea) Euxine.

This Croesus was the first foreigner whom we know who subjugated some Greeks and took tribute from them, and won the friendship of others: the former being the Ionians, the Aeolians, and the Dorians of Asia (continent)Asia, and the latter the Lacedaemonians.