Histories

And it was the wish of Loxias that the evil lot of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis fall in the lifetime of Croesus' sons, not in his own; but he could not deflect the Fates.

Yet as far as they gave in, he did accomplish his wish and favor Croesus: for he delayed the taking of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis for three years. And let Croesus know this: that although he is now taken, it is by so many years later than the destined hour. And further, Loxias saved Croesus from burning.

But as to the oracle that was given to him, Croesus is wrong to complain concerning it. For Loxias declared to him that if he led an army against the Persians, he would destroy a great empire. Therefore he ought, if he had wanted to plan well, to have sent and asked whether the god spoke of Croesus' or of Cyrus' empire. But he did not understood what was spoken, or make further inquiry: for which now let him blame himself.

When he asked that last question of the oracle and Loxias gave him that answer concerning the mule, even that Croesus did not understand. For that mule was in fact Cyrus, who was the son of two parents not of the same people, of whom the mother was better and the father inferior:

for she was a Mede and the daughter of Astyages king of the Medes; but he was a Persian and a subject of the Medes and although in all respects her inferior he married this lady of his.” This was the answer of the priestess to the Lydians. They carried it to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis and told Croesus, and when he heard it, he confessed that the sin was not the god's, but his. And this is the story of Croesus' rule, and of the first overthrow of Ionia (region (general)), Europe Ionia.

There are many offerings of Croesus' in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas, and not only those of which I have spoken. There is a golden tripod at Thebes [23.3333,38.325] (Perseus) Thebes in Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia, which he dedicated to Apollo of Ismenus; at Ephesus [27.316,37.916] (deserted settlement), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, AsiaEphesus [*](The temple at Ephesus [27.316,37.916] (deserted settlement), Izmir Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, Asia Ephesus was founded probably in Alyattes' reign, and not completed till the period of the Graeco-Persian War.) there are the oxen of gold and the greater part of the pillars; and in the temple of Proneia at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, a golden shield.[*](The temple of Athena Proneia (= before the shrine) was situated outside the temple of Apollo.) All these survived to my lifetime; but other of the offerings were destroyed.

And the offerings of Croesus at Didyma [27.233,37.35] (historic site), Aydin Ili, Ege kiyilari, Turkey, AsiaBranchidae of the Milesians, as I learn by inquiry, are equal in weight and like those at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi. Those which he dedicated at Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi and the shrine of Amphiaraus were his own, the first-fruits of the wealth inherited from his father; the rest came from the estate of an enemy who had headed a faction against Croesus before he became king, and conspired to win the throne of Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia for Pantaleon.