When King Croesus received the replies from the oracles, he felt great joy and confidence. He believed the messages confirmed that he would destroy the Persian Empire. Certain of his future success, Croesus decided to reward the oracle at Delphi once again for its guidance. He sent messengers to Pytho and gave each Delphian two gold staters. He first made sure to learn how many citizens lived there, so that his gift would be generous and fair to all.
In return for this rich offering, the people of Delphi granted special honors to Croesus and the Lydians. They were given the right to consult the oracle before others, which was a great privilege. They were also freed from all fees and payments connected with the oracle. At public festivals, they received the most honorable seats. In addition, Croesus and all Lydians were granted the permanent right to become citizens of Delphi if they wished. These honors showed how deeply the Delphians appreciated the king’s generosity Croesus Examines the Greek States.
A Third Question to the Oracle
After sending these gifts, Croesus consulted the oracle for the third time. Since he believed he had proven the truth of its prophecies, he now wanted to rely on it regularly. This time, his question was more personal and serious. He asked whether his kingdom would last for a long time.
The Pythoness, the priestess of Apollo, gave her reply in the form of a riddle-like poem. She said that Croesus should wait until a mule became king of Media. When that impossible event happened, he should flee quickly to the banks of the river Hermus and not feel ashamed to run away like a coward.
Croesus Misunderstands the Warning
Out of all the answers Croesus had received from the oracle, this one pleased him the most. He believed it was good news. To him, it seemed impossible that a mule, an animal born from two different species, could ever rule a kingdom. Because of this, he concluded that his own rule, and that of his descendants, would last forever.
Croesus did not understand that the oracle was speaking in symbols. He failed to see that the message was actually a warning. Instead of preparing for danger, he felt safe and secure in his power Daily Ephesus Tours.
Searching for Strong Greek Allies
After this, Croesus turned his attention to another part of the oracle’s advice. He had been told to form alliances with the strongest Greek states. Wanting to make a wise choice, he sent messengers to gather information about Greece.
His inquiries showed that two states stood above all others in power and influence. These were Sparta, also known as Lacedaemon, and Athens. The Spartans were of Doric origin, while the Athenians were of Ionic origin. From very early times, these two peoples had played leading roles in Greek history.
The Ancient Origins of the Greek Peoples
The Athenians were considered a Pelasgian people and had lived in the same land for many generations. In contrast, the Dorians, ancestors of the Spartans, had moved many times. During the age of Deucalion, the Hellenes lived in a region called Phthiotis. Later, under Dorus, son of Hellen, they settled near Mount Ossa and Mount Olympus, in a land known as Histiaeotis.
After being forced out by the Cadmeians, they moved to the Pindus mountains and were called Macedni. From there, they traveled again to Dryopis. Finally, after entering the Peloponnese, they became known as Dorians. This long history shaped the power and character of the Greek states that Croesus now hoped to make his allies.
