Paw Prints Anecdotes: Croesus (6th century B.C.)

Coin of Croesus Anecdote...

Deliberating whether to attack the Persians, Croesus asked the oracle of Delphi if the undertaking would prosper. The oracle replied that if he went to war, he would destroy a great empire. Encouraged, Croesus invaded the Persian realms. He was decisively beaten and the Persians then invaded Lydia, captured its capital, and threw Croesus himself into chains. Croesus again sent an envoy to Delphi, this time with the question, "Why did you deceive me?"

The priestess of the oracle replied that she had not deceived him — Croesus had indeed destroyed a great empire.

Biographical Note...

last King of Lydia in Asia Minor (560-546 BC). He lost his throne in an ill-advised campaign against the Persians. His ancient realm lies within present-day Turkey. Croesus derived his wealth from gold deposits in the river Pactolus, said to have been left there when another king, a mythological one, washed away the Midas touch. From his great wealth comes the phrase "rich as Croesus."

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