Croesus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Croesus

29 passages from 6 ancient authors that tell of Croesus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Croesus was a king of Lydia, whose reign lasted for fourteen years. He was well known for the wealth he had amassed. He was the creator of the first t... For the story in one place, read our article on Croesus.

Pindar (1)

Pindar, Pythian Odes 1.1–100Pythian 1: for Hieron — the golden lyre and AetnaPindar hymns the golden lyre of Apollo and the Muses, before which even the enemies of Zeus, such as Typhon beneath Aetna, are terrified. He praises Hieron, founder of the city of Aetna, victor in the chariot race, and prays that Dorian order may last there, recalling the battles of Salamis, Cithaeron and Himera. He ends by contrasting the fame of Croesus with the infamy of Phalaris.

Bacchylides (1)

Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 3.1–4.20Odes 3–4: Croesus saved by Apollo; Hieron's victoriesCleio is told to praise Demeter and Hieron of Syracuse, whose horses won at Olympia. The poet tells how Croesus, with Sardis falling to the Persians, mounted a pyre with his family, how Zeus quenched the flames and how Apollo carried him to the Hyperboreans. The ode closes with Apollo's advice to Admetus, son of Pheres, and the promise that Hieron's glory will be sung by the nightingale of Ceos. Ode 4 hymns Hieron's third Pythian victory and his two at Olympia.

Herodotus (23)

Herodotus, Histories 1.34–45Atys and AdrastusA dream told Croesus that his son Atys would die by an iron spear-point, so he kept weapons away from him. Adrastos, a Phrygian who had killed his brother, was cleansed by Croesus and made guardian of Atys on a boar hunt. Adrastos' spear missed the boar and killed Atys. Croesus forgave him, but Adrastos killed himself upon the tomb.
Herodotus, Histories 1.76–81The battle of Pteria and the camels at SardisCroesus took Pteria in Cappadokia and fought Cyrus to a draw, then returned to Sardis and disbanded his mercenaries to wait for allies. Cyrus marched at once on Sardis. Serpents appeared in the suburb and were eaten by horses. Cyrus set camels in front of the Lydian horse, whose horses turned from them, and the Lydians were shut inside their fortress.
Herodotus, Histories 1.89–91Croesus' advice to Cyrus and his reproach to ApolloCroesus advised Cyrus to have the plunder tithed to Zeus at the gates, and Cyrus approved. Croesus sent his fetters to Delphi to ask whether it was right to deceive those who do well to the god. The Pythian prophetess answered that fate cannot be escaped, that Croesus paid for the sin of his fifth ancestor, and that he should have asked whose empire would fall.
Herodotus, Histories 1.86–88Croesus on the pyreCyrus put the captive Croesus on a pyre. Croesus called three times on Solon and explained his saying to Cyrus, who, fearing requital, ordered the fire put out but could not master the flames. Croesus then called on Apollo, and a storm of rain quenched the pyre. Croesus told Cyrus that the god of the Hellenes had urged him to march, and was set free.
Herodotus, Histories 1.69–72Croesus allies with Sparta; Sandanis' warningCroesus asked the Lacedemonians for an alliance, as the god had bidden him, and they accepted it. The bronze mixing-bowl they sent in return never reached Sardis, and the Lacedemonians and Samians tell different stories of it. Sandanis warned Croesus that the Persians wore leather and had no good things to lose, but Croesus marched into Cappadokia.
Herodotus, Histories 1.50–55Croesus' gifts to Delphi and the oracle of the muleCroesus sacrificed three thousand victims of each kind and sent gold half-plinths, a gold lion, bowls and other offerings to Delphi, and a gold shield and spear to Amphiaraos. Both Oracles said that if he marched against the Persians he would destroy a great empire. On a third consultation he was told to flee when a mule became monarch of the Medes.
Herodotus, Histories 1.29–33Croesus and SolonSolon the Athenian came to Sardis and was shown the treasures of Croesus, who asked him whom he thought the happiest of men. Solon named Tellos the Athenian and then Cleobis and Biton, and told Croesus that no man can be called happy until his life has ended well. Croesus sent him away, thinking him senseless.
Herodotus, Histories 3.34–36Cambyses, the son of Prexaspes and CroesusCambyses asks Prexaspes what the Persians say of him, and angered by the answer, he shoots Prexaspes' son through the heart to prove he is not mad. He also buries twelve Persians alive. When Croesus warns him, Cambyses tries to shoot him, and the attendants who hid Croesus are put to death.
Herodotus, Histories 1.46–49Croesus tests the oraclesAfter two years of mourning, Croesus feared the growing power of the Persians and sent messengers to test the Oracles of the Hellenes and of Libya. On the hundredth day they were to ask what Croesus was doing. Only the Pythian prophetess at Delphi named the tortoise and lamb boiling in a bronze caldron, so Croesus judged Delphi the true Oracle.
Herodotus, Histories 1.84–85The fall of SardisOn the fourteenth day of the siege Cyrus offered gifts to the first man to scale the wall. A Mardian, Hyroiades, climbed where the citadel was thought unassailable, because he had seen a Lydian descend there to fetch a helmet. Sardis was taken. The speechless son of Croesus cried out to a Persian, "Man, slay not Croesus," and spoke ever after.
Herodotus, Histories 1.26–28Croesus conquers the Greeks of AsiaCroesus succeeded Alyattes and attacked the Ephesians first, then the other Ionian and Aiolian cities. When he prepared ships against the islanders, Bias of Priene told him that the islanders hoped to catch Lydians on the sea. Croesus stopped building ships and made friends with the island Ionians. Nearly all the nations this side of the Halys were then subject to him.
Herodotus, Histories 1.73–75The eclipse of Thales and the crossing of the HalysCroesus marched to avenge Astyages, his brother by marriage. Scythians who had fled to Kyaxares served him a boy's flesh and took refuge with Alyattes, leading to a war of the Lydians and Medes. In the sixth year day turned to night, as Thales had foretold, and peace was made. Croesus then crossed the Halys, by bridges or by Thales' channel.

11 more passages of Herodotus that name Croesus

Parthenius of Nicaea (1)

Parthenius of Nicaea, Love Romances 21.1–22.1Pisidice and Achilles; Nanis and CyrusWhile Achilles is besieging Methymna on Lesbos, Pisidice, the king's daughter, falls in love with him and promises through her nurse to put the town into his hands. Once he has the town he has her stoned, and the story is told in two passages of verse. Nanis, daughter of Croesus, betrays Sardis to Cyrus on his promise to marry her according to the customs of the Persians, and he refuses to keep it.

Plutarch (2)

Plutarch, Life of Solon 27.1–28.4Solon and Croesus: Tellus, Cleobis and BitoAt Sardis Solon is unimpressed by Croesus' display of wealth and names his fellow-citizen Tellus as the happiest man, then Cleobis and Bito, who drew their mother's cart to the temple of Hera and died peacefully. He tells Croesus that no man should be called happy before his end, and leaves the king angry. Later Croesus, defeated by Cyrus and bound on the pyre, calls out Solon's name, and Cyrus spares and honours him.
Plutarch, Life of Publicola comp.1.1–comp.4.4Comparison of Solon and PublicolaPlutarch argues that Solon's verdict to Croesus on happiness fits Publicola better than Tellus, since Publicola won victories, honours and a mourned death, and his wealth was honestly gained and generously spent. Publicola built on Solon's example in making the consulship democratic, giving the people the choice of rulers and appeal to the people, and he hated tyranny more fiercely. Solon's cancelling of debts and his lone leadership were his own, but Publicola's constitution outlasted him while Solon saw Peisistratus take power, and Publicola's handling of Porsena shows his skill in war and diplomacy.

Strabo (1)

Strabo, Geography 9.3.5–8Delphi: the oracle, the navel and the AmphictyonsStrabo describes the cavern, the exhalation and the tripod where the Pythian priestess prophesied, with Phemonoe as the first prophetess. He gives Delphi's claim to be the centre of the earth, with the fable of the two eagles released by Zeus (Jupiter) and the navel in the temple. The Amphictyonic council and its first organiser Acrisius are explained, followed by the treasuries of Croesus and others, the wealth cited by Homer and the pillaging in the Sacred war.