Gyges

Family: Lydian · Role: son of Daskylos and spearman of Candaules · First appears: Book 1 · §1–8

As a spearman of Candaules, Gyges was the one “of all his spearmen” most pleasing to him, and Candaules shared his weightier affairs with him and praised his wife’s beauty. When night came, Gyges slew Candaules and obtained his wife and kingdom. At Delphi, the Oracle confirmed him as king of the Lydians; the Pythian prophetess also foretold vengeance upon his descendants in the fifth generation. On becoming king, he sent numerous offerings to Delphi, led an army against Miletos and Smyrna, and took Colophon’s lower town.

Gyges was succeeded by his son Ardys. Archilochos of Paros made mention of him in verse. Later, Oroites sent Myrsos, Gyges’s son, to Samos with a message; Myrsos died when the Carians ambushed the Persians by night.

Relationship record

Life events

• Gyges slew Candaules and obtained his wife and kingdom.(Book 1 · §9–18)
  • With: Candaules
  • “Then afterwards, while Candaules was sleeping, Gyges came privily up to him and slew him, and he obtained both his wife and his kingdom”
• The Oracle confirmed Gyges as king of the Lydians.(Book 1 · §9–18 · 📍 Delphi)
  • “So the Oracle gave answer, and Gyges accordingly became king”
• The Pythian prophetess foretold vengeance upon Gyges’s descendants in the fifth generation.(Book 1 · §9–18 · 📍 Delphi)
  • “yet the Pythian prophetess said this also, that vengeance for the Heracleidai should come upon the descendants of Gyges in the fifth generation.”
• Gyges dedicated numerous votive offerings at Delphi, including six golden mixing-bowls.(Book 1 · §9–18 · 📍 Delphi)
  • “Gyges when he became ruler sent votive offerings to Delphi not a few”
• Gyges led an army against Miletos and Smyrna.(Book 1 · §9–18 · 📍 Miletos and Smyrna)
  • “Now Gyges also, as soon as he became king, led an army against Miletos and Smyrna”
• Gyges took the lower town of Colophon.(Book 1 · §9–18 · 📍 Colophon)
  • “and he took the lower town of Colophon”
• Ardys became king after Gyges.(Book 1 · §9–18)
  • With: Ardys
  • “He took Priene and made an invasion against Miletos; and while he was ruling over Sardis”
• The Carians ambushed and destroyed the Persians, including Daurises and Myrsos.(Book 5 · §112–125 · 📍 by Pedasos)
  • With: Daurises Myrsos Heracleides Ibanollis
  • “the Persians falling into it by night were destroyed both they and their commanders, namely Daurises and Amorges and Sisimakes; and with them died also Myrsos the son of Gyges.”

Book 1 · §1–8

• parent: Daskylos “to Gyges the son of Daskylos (for he of all his spearmen was the most pleasing to him),”
• with Candaules (Candaules favored Gyges and confided in him.) “to Gyges the son of Daskylos (for he of all his spearmen was the most pleasing to him), to this Gyges, I say, he used to impart as well the more weighty of his affairs as also the beauty of his wife, praising it above measure”
• employer: Candaules “to Gyges the son of Daskylos (for he of all his spearmen was the most pleasing to him),”

Book 1 · §9–18

• employer: Candaules (Candaules is described as Gyges's master.) “so that thou mayest not in future, by obeying Candaules in all things, see that which thou shouldest not.”
• with Candaules (Gyges becomes king of Lydia after Candaules.) “So the Oracle gave answer, and Gyges accordingly became king:”
• child: Ardys “and I will speak now of Ardys the son of Gyges, who became king after Gyges.”
• with Archilochos (Archilochos wrote about Gyges.) “of him moreover Archilochos the Parian, who lived about that time, made mention in a trimeter iambic verse”

Book 3 · §120–127

• with myrсов (Myrсов is Gyges's son.) “sent Myrsos the son of Gyges, a Lydian, to Samos bearing a message”
• child: Myrsos “Oroites however, having his residence at that Magnesia which is situated upon the river Maiander, sent Myrsos the son of Gyges, a Lydian, to Samos bearing a message, since he had perceived the designs of Polycrates.”

Book 5 · §112–125

• child: Myrsos “Myrsos the son of Gyges”

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Extracted from the original text of The Histories. Made with Rho MD.