Crœsus

, the fifth and last of the Mermnadæ, who reigned in Lydia, was son of Alyattes, and pa ed for the richest of mankind. He was the first who made the Greeks of Asia tributary to the Lydians. His court was the asylum of learning; and Æsop the famous fable-writer, among others, lived under his patronage. In a conversation with Solon, Crœsus wished to be thought the happiest of mankind; but the philosopher apprised him of his mistake, and gave the preference to poverty and domestic virtue. Crœsus undertook a war against Cyrus the king of Persia, and marched to meet him with an army of 420,000 men and 60,000 horse. After a reign of 14 years, he was defeated, B.C. 548; his capital was besieged, and he fell into the conqueror’s hands, who ordered him to be burnt alive. The pile was already on fire, when Cyrus heard the conquered monarch three times exclaim, “Solon!” with lamentable energy. He asked him the reason of his exclamation, and Crœsus repeated the conversation which he had once with Solon on human happine . Cyrus was moved at the recital, and at the recollection of the inconstancy of human affairs, he ordered Crœsus to be taken from the burning pile, and he became one of his most intimate friends. The kingdom of Lydia became extinct in his person, and the power was transferred to Persia. Crœsus survived Cyrus. The manner of his death is unknown. He is celebrated for the immensely rich presents which he made to the temple of Delphi, from which he received an obscure and ambiguous oracle, which he interpreted in his favour, and which was fulfilled in the destruction of his empire. Hero dot us , bk. 1 , ch. 26 , . — Plutarch , Solon , bk. 8 , ch. 24 .— Justin , bk. 1 , ch. 7 .