Histories

This was how Croesus reasoned. Meanwhile, snakes began to swarm in the outer part of the city; and when they appeared the horses, leaving their accustomed pasture, devoured them. When Croesus saw this he thought it a portent, and so it was.

He at once sent to the homes of the Telmessian interpreters,[*](These were a caste of priests of Apollo at Telmessus or Telmissus in Lycia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lycia. tw=n e)chghte/wn *telmhsse/wn is contrary to Greek usage, e)chghth/s being a substantive: Stein suggests that the true reading may be *telmhsse/wn tw=n e)chghte/wn.) to inquire concerning it; but though his messengers came and learned from the Telmessians what the portent meant, they could not bring back word to Croesus, for he was a prisoner before they could make their voyage back to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis.

Nonetheless, this was the judgment of the Telmessians: that Croesus must expect a foreign army to attack his country, and that when it came, it would subjugate the inhabitants of the land: for the snake, they said, was the offspring of the land, but the horse was an enemy and a foreigner. This was the answer which the Telmessians gave Croesus, knowing as yet nothing of the fate of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis and of the king himself; but when they gave it, Croesus was already taken.

When Croesus marched away after the battle in the Pterian country, Cyrus, learning that Croesus had gone intending to disband his army, deliberated and perceived that it would be opportune for him to march quickly against Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, before the power of the Lydians could be assembled again.