Atys

Family: Lydian · Role: father of Lydos · First appears: Book 1 · §1–8

Life events

• A dream warned Croesus that Atys would die by an iron spear-point.(Book 1 · §34–43)
  • With: Croesus
  • “the dream signified to Croesus that he should lose him by the blow of an iron spear-point”
• Croesus arranged a marriage for Atys and stopped sending him on military business.(Book 1 · §34–43)
  • With: Croesus
  • “first he took for his son a wife; and whereas his son had been wont to lead the armies of the Lydians, he now no longer sent him forth anywhere on any such business”
• Croesus refused to send Atys on the boar hunt, but agreed to send other men and dogs.(Book 1 · §34–43)
  • With: Croesus
  • “but I will send with you chosen men of the Lydians and the whole number of my hunting dogs”
• After Atys argued that the dream did not apply to a boar hunt, Croesus changed his mind and allowed him to go.(Book 1 · §34–43)
  • With: Croesus
  • “therefore, having been prevailed upon by thee, I change my resolution and allow thee to go to the chase.”
• Croesus appointed Adrastos to protect Atys during the hunt.(Book 1 · §34–43)
  • With: Croesus Adrastos
  • “I ask of thee to be the protector of my son who goes forth to the chase”
• Adrastos accidentally struck and killed Atys with his spear while hunting the boar.(Book 1 · §34–43 · 📍 Mount Olympos)
  • With: Adrastos
  • “hurling a spear at it missed the boar and struck the son of Croesus.”
• After Atys died, Croesus grieved and called upon Zeus as Cleanser, Protector of Suppliants, and Guardian of Friendship.(Book 1 · §34–43 · 📍 Sardis)
  • With: Croesus Adrastos Zeus
  • “And being grievously troubled by the misfortune he called upon Zeus the Cleanser, protesting to him that which he had suffered from his guest”
• A grievous dearth came over Lydia.(Book 1 · §94–101 · 📍 Lydia)
  • “In the reign of Atys the son of Manes their king there came to be a grievous dearth over the whole of Lydia;”
• The Lydians invented games and alternated days of playing with days of eating to endure the famine.(Book 1 · §94–101 · 📍 Lydia)
  • “These games they invented as a resource against the famine, and thus they used to do:—on one of the days they would play games all the time in order that they might not feel the want of food, and on the next they ceased from their games and had food: and thus they went on for eighteen years.”
• Atys divided the Lydians by lot, keeping one part in the land and sending the other away under Tyrsenos.(Book 1 · §94–101 · 📍 Lydia)
  • With: Tyrsenos
  • “therefore their king divided the whole Lydian people into two parts, and he appointed by lot one part to remain and the other to go forth from the land; and the king appointed himself to be over that one of the parts which had the lot to stay in the land, and his son to be over that which was departing; and the name of his son was Tyrsenos.”

Book 1 · §1–8

• child: Lydos “those who were kings over this land before Agron, were descendants of Lydos the son of Atys, whence this whole nation was called Lydian”

Book 1 · §34–43

• parent: Croesus “Now Croesus had two sons, of whom one was deficient, seeing that he was deaf and dumb, while the other far surpassed his companions of the same age in all things: and the name of this last was Atys.”
• guardian: Adrastos “Now therefore, since having first received kindness from me thou art bound to requite me with kindness, I ask of thee to be the protector of my son who goes forth to the chase, lest any evil robbers come upon you by the way to do you harm;”
• with Adrastos (interaction) “Then the guest, he who had been cleansed of manslaughter, whose name was Adrastos, hurling a spear at it missed the boar and struck the son of Croesus.”

Book 1 · §94–101

• parent: Manes “In the reign of Atys the son of Manes their king there came to be a grievous dearth over the whole of Lydia;”
• child: Tyrsenos “and his son to be over that which was departing; and the name of his son was Tyrsenos.”
• with Tyrsenos (Tyrsenos led the departing Lydians.) “and changing their name they were called after the king's son who led them out from home, not Lydians but Tyrsenians, taking the name from him.”

Book 7 · §20–28

• child: Pythios “Pythios the son of Atys, a Lydian, was waiting for the king and entertained his whole army, as well as Xerxes himself, with the most magnificent hospitality;”

Book 7 · §70–85

• child: Lydos “Now the Lydians were in old time called Medonians, and they were named again after Lydos the son of Atys, changing their former name.”

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