Lȳdia

, a celebrated kingdom of Asia Minor, whose boundaries were different at different times. It was first bounded by Mysia Major, Caria, Phrygia Major, and Ionia, but in its more flourishing times it contained the whole country which lies between the Halys and the Ægean sea. It was anciently called Mæonia , and received the name of Lydia from Lydus, one of its kings. It was governed by monarchs who, after the fabulous ages, reigned for 249 years in the following order: Ardysus began to reign 797 B.C.; Alyattes, 761; Meles, 747; Candaules, 735; Gyges, 718; Ardysus  II. , 680; Sadyattes, 631; Alyattes  II. , 619; and Crœsus, 562, who was conquered by Cyrus, B.C. 548, when the kingdom became a province of the Persian empire. There were three different races that reigned in Lydia, the Atyadæ, Heraclidæ, and Mermnadæ. The history of the first is obscure and fabulous; the Heraclidæ began to reign about the Trojan war, and the crown remained in their family for about 505 years, and was always transmitted from father to son. Candaules was the last of the Heraclidæ; and Gyges the first, and Crœsus the last, of the Mermnadæ. The Lydians were great warriors in the reign of the Mermnadæ. They invented the art of coining gold and silver, and were the first who exhibited public sports, . Hero dot us , bk. 1 , ch. 6 ; bk. 3 , ch. 90 ; bk. 7 , ch. 74 .— Strabo , bks. 2, 5, & 13.— Mela , bk. 1 , ch. 2 .— Pliny , bk. 3 , ch. 5 .— Dionysius of Halicarna us , bk. 1 .— Diodorus , bk. 4 .— Justin , bk. 13 , ch. 4 .――A mistre of Horace, . , bk. 1 , ode 8.