Thursday, November 3, 2016

Quick Bios! Sardis/Lydia


  • Kree-sus
  • Descendant of Gyges
  • King of Sardis and all of Lydia
  • Thought he was the happiest man alive because money, wife, kid, but this wise man from Athens, Solon, said no. His life wasn't over yet and it could get bad.
  • Croesus decides to attack Persia but asks the Oracles at Delphi first
  • Oracle says two things:
    • 1) "You will destroy a great empire"
      • Problem: this does not specify which empire will be destroyed, Croesus or Cyrus?
    • 2) "You will not be destroyed until a mule sits on the throne of Persia"
      • Croesus thought it meant a real mule, but it was talking about how Cyrus was half-Mede half-Persian
  • Croesus fights Cyrus and loses. He retreats back to Sardis where some horses eat some snakes. He recognizes this as symbolic: the Lydians are the snakes and the horses are Persians. He will be destroyed.
  • Sardis is overtaken because of camels.
  • Croesus us tied up to a stake and set on fire.
  • He yells, "Solon, Solon... SOLON! HE WAS A MAN!" for he realizes that Solon was right and nothing in life is guaranteed.
  • Cyrus wants to know who this Solon person is. Fortunately a magic Apollo cloud comes along and puts out the fire.
  • Croesus and Cyrus become pals.
  • Croesus tries to convince Cyrus not to go against Tomyris, but Cyrus doesn't listen.
  • Cyrus dies, Croesus lives pretty happily in Persia until he dies.

Quick Bios! Miletus


  • Given Miletus by Darius
  • Is a tyrant
  • Starts to fortify Miletus
  • Artaphernes notices and convinces Darius this is bad.
  • Darius brings him to Susa to be his best friend
  • Histiaeus sends a secret message via the tattoo on a man's head (shaved him, tattooed him, waited for the hair to grow, sent him away) to Aristagoras, his nephew and son-in-law.
  • Convinces Aristagoras to rebel against Darius.
  • Artaphernes finds out.
  • Aristagoras fails, Histiaeus gets captured by Artaphernes and beheaded.
  • His head is sent to Darius who cries and has his head washed and buried properly.


  • Son-in-law and nephew to Histiaeus
  • Convinced by Histiaeus to rebel against Darius
  • Gives Miletus its freedom in order to get them on his side
  • Goes to Sparta and asks for help from Cleomenes but fails
  • Convinces some Athenians to help him
  • Miletus refuses to take him back because now that they have tasted freedom they will not go back to tyranny
  • Aristagoras sends letters to his contacts in Susa, but Artaphernes intercepts them.
  • Aristagoras killed by Artaphernes.

Quick Bios! Persia (Susa)

  • Grandfather, Astyages, tried to have him killed off as a baby
  • Harpagus, who was supposed to kill him, gave him to a shepherd to kill, to avoid having blood on his hands.
  • The shepherd kept Cyrus and gave his recently dead baby to Harpagus
  • Cyrus grew up and took over the Persian throne. He was half-Mede, half-Persian (like a mule)
  • Cyrus attacked Croesus and took over Lydia and Sardis.
  • Cyrus defeated Croesus by listening to Harpagus' advice about the camels.
  • Cyrus hears Croesus crying out about a man named Solon and saved Croesus, who became his friend.
  • Cyrus decides to attack a lady named Tomyris.
  • He dies.




  •  Lived in Susa
  • Was supposed to kill the king's grandson, Cyrus, but didn't.
  • The king feeds Harpagus the flesh of his own son.
  • Harpagus helps Cyrus become king for revenge
  • Becomes an adviser to Cyrus.
  • When Cyrus attacks Sardis Harpagus has him put the camels in front of the infantry and cavalry of their army so that the first things the Lydian horses will see and smell are camels. Horses hate the smell of camels. The horses of the Lydians freaked out and this helped the Persians/Cyrus win.


  • King of Persia
  • Related to Cyrus
  • Very forgiving
  • When he receives the dead head of his enemy Histiaeus he cries and has it washed and buried with proper honor.
  • Sends enjoys/messengers to Athens and Sparta to ask for earth and water as signs that they would accept him as king.
  • His messengers are pushed down wells to "find their earth and water."
  • He sends an army to punish them, but in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC/E the Athenians cause the Greeks to win and Darius' army is defeated.
  • Darius has a servant reminded him "Don't forget Athens, don't forget Athens, don't forget Athens," every day before he ate his evening meal.
  • He dies before he can have revenge.


  • Son of Darius.
  • Wants to avenge his father and attack Athens.
  • Whips the Hellespont because it broke his bridge of boats.
  • Accepts Demaratos of Sparta as his adviser.
  • Related to Mardonius.
  • Goes to Athens to fight, these are the Persian Wars.
  • Looks at his army and cries because life if short
  • Laughs when Demaratos tells him that the Spartans will fight no matter what.
  • Defeats Leonidas at Thermopylae, along with 300 other Spartans and their allies.
  • Defeats Athens and camps inside their city.
  • Fights at Salamis in 480 BC/E, but loses
  • Retreats back home to Susa, a failure.

  • Related to Xerxes.
  • Loves mischief and causing trouble.
  • Wants to rule all of Hellas/Greece.
  • Convinces Xerxes to go to war against the Hellenics/Greeks.
  • When Xerxes loses at Salamis in 480 BC/E Mardonius offers to stay behind with an army and try to defeat the Greeks/Hellenics by land because he knows everyone will blame him for the Persians losing since it was his idea in the first place.
  • Xerxes doesn't care about Mardonius' life and allows him to stay.



  •  Related to Xerxes.
  • Prince of Persia.
  • Alive during the Pelopponesian Wars.
  • Signs a treaty with Sparta/Astyochus.
  • Gives Spartan troops money.
  • Is convinced by Alcibiades to back off and help less, letting Sparta and Athens kill each other off.

Quick Bios! Athens

  • So-lawn
  • "He was a man!"
  • From Athens
  • Created the laws of Athens, told them no one but himself could change anything in the laws for ten years, and then he skidaddled and traveled.
  • Met Croesus and told him "You cannot tell if your life was happy until your life is over." He did not believe Croesus was the happiest man alive.
  • Exiled from Athens
  • Came back to Athens around 480 BC/E during the Persian Wars
  • Put in charge of the navy/ships
  • Convinces Eurydiades to stay at the isle of Salamis to fight there
  • Sent letters secretly to Xerxes to convince him to attack the Greeks, so that the Greeks couldn't run away.
  • Fought in the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC/E
  • Eventually got kicked out of Athens years later
  • Went to Persia
  • Died there, either from disease or poison or both.
  • Al-kib-ee-awww-deez
  • From Athens, super beautiful
  • When he wrestled as a child he would bite his opponents and they would say "You bite like a woman!" and he would say "No. I bite like a lion."
  • During a game of dice, also in childhood, he threw himself in front of a horse and cart shouting "You on if you must!" because he was winning the game and didn't want to lose.
  • He was very good at public speaking.
  • He was accused of betraying the Athenians.
  • He ran away and joined the enemy, Sparta, during the Pelopponesian Wars. Why should Sparta trust him? Because Athens, his city, is one of justice. Athens is being unjust. Therefore, it is no longer his city.
  • During the fight over Miletus, the isle of Chios, and the isle of Lesbos, he makes friends with some Athenians on the isle of Samos.
  • Astyochus, admiral of the Spartan fleet, is given orders to kill him.
  • He flees to seek help from Persia, but before he gets there the house he is staying in is set on fire and he is arrowed and javelined to death.






Quick Bios! Sparta


  • Klee-ahh-meh-knees
  • King of Sparta
  • Only slightly deranged
  • Asked by Aristagoras to send troops to fight against Darius. Almost says yes, but stopped by his daughter.
  • Father to Gorgo.
  • Brother to Leonidas.
  • Spreads rumours against his co-ruler, Demaratos, and gets him kicked out of Sparta.
  • Desecrates a grove sacred to the gods.
  • Goes crazy-pants.
  • Is first exiled because of what he did to Demaratos and then imprisoned.
  • He kills himself by slowly flaying himself alive, starting at the ankles. Ew.
  • For more info see Kleomenes
  • Deh-ma-ra-tus
  • King of Sparta
  • Kingship taken away because of rumour his co-ruler, Cleomenes, spread about how his father was not really the king.
  • Fled to Persia
  • Became friends with Darius (no surprise there)
  • Became adviser to Xerxes and told him that no matter what Spartans would always fight.

  • Gore-go
  • Became Queen of Sparta
  • Daughter of Cleomenes
  • Niece/Wife of Leonidas
  • Convinced her father not to trust the Ionian, Aristagoras, and saved Sparta from siding with the Persians.
  • When Demaratus sent a secret message on a wax tablet she was the only one to be able to figure out to melt the wax to see the message underneath.
  • For more of Gorgo click here

  • King of Sparta, after Cleomenes died.
  • He was raised as a regular Spartan instead of as a king and knew how to fight.
  • He was married to his niece, Gorgo.
  • He, along with 300 other Spartans, fought against the Persians at Thermopylae.
  • He was killed in battle, betrayed by a fellow Greek who showed the Persians a goat trail that led around to the back of the Spartan army.




  •  Eurybiades (your-ih-bye-uhh-deez)
  • From Sparta in Greece
  • Led all Greek/Hellenic navies in the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C/E
  • Was convinced by Themistocles to stay at Salamis and not flee



  • Uh-sty-uhh-kiss
  • Spartan admiral (in charge of navy/ships)
  • Fought during the Pelopponesian War
  • Was allies with Alcibiades (an Athenian)
  • Created a peace treaty with Tissaphernes (a Persian)
  • Fought to protect Miletus

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Gyges and Candaules

Once upon a time there was a king of Ionia, in the kingdom of Lydia, in the city of Sardis. His name was Candaules. This man was very strange, in that he actually loved his wife. Indeed, not only did he love her but he was convinced she was the most beautiful woman alive. He often would pontificate about how gorgeous she was.

This king had many servants and personal bodyguards, but there was one who was Candaules closest friend. His name was Gyges.

One day Canduales went up to Gyges and said to him, “I do not think you believe me when I tell you that my wife is the most beautiful.” Gyges did not respond, for he probably did not know how to. “Do not worry, friend,” said Candaules, “I have a plan. You will wait in my room tonight, behind the door. My wife will come in and she will disrobe and you shall see her naked, and know that she is, indeed, the most beautiful woman ever.”

Gyges was astonished! Apalled! “No, no, no, my king,” he said. “Do not make me do this thing. It is dishonourable to see a woman’s nakedness!”

“Shush,” said the king, “you must do as I say.” This, unfortunately, was true.

That night Gyges hid behind the king’s door. The king was waiting in bed. He winked broadly at Gyges. Gyges blushed and hid his face behind his hands, peeking out through his fingers as the Queen entered. First she took out the comb in her hair, shaking out the long locks. Gyges’ heart pounded in his ears. Second she took off her robe. Gyges wished he had something magical, like a ring or something, that could make him disappear. Third she took off her dress. Gyges felt sick to his stomach.

The Queen made her way to Canduales and Gyges slipped out the door as quickly as he could. But alas! The Queen saw him. However, she did not yet say anything.

The next morning the Queen called Gyges to her throne room. He did not think anything was odd about this request, for the Queen often asked him for advice. Today was different, though. Today he entered with a pounding heart and a sickness in his stomach, for he knew he had seen what he should not have seen.

“Gyges?” the Queen said.

“Yes, my Queen?” said the poor guard.

The Queen motioned to him to come closer and when he was very near she leaned toward him and said, “I know what you have done.” Gyges fell to his knees in despair. “I know what you have seen.” He clapped his hands over his eyes and gave out a great moan. “Gyges,” said the Queen, “you have two choices. Either you must be killed, or you must kill Candaules and take his place as my husband, for only one man alive can know what I look like naked.”

“No, no, no!” shouted Gyges. “Do not make me do this dishonourable thing! It would be wrong to betray the man who has taken me in, welcomed me, and treated me as his own family. How could I do this thing?”

“Life if you kill him, death if you don’t. Which will you choose, Gyges?”

“Well,” said Gyges, “I prefer living.”

That night Gyges opened the door to the king’s bedroom. Candaules was there on the bed, sprawled out, snoring slightly, sucking his thumb. Gyges went to the bed. He glanced over at the door he had hid behind only the night before. He looked back at the king.

“I do not know,” said Gyges to the sleeping king, “if the Queen is the most beautiful woman in the world, for I have not had occasion to look upon every woman in the world, but I do know one thing. You both give a man terrible choices in life.” Gyges stabbed Candaules in the heart and thus, killed him.

The next day he was crowned king.

All of the Lydians in all of the kingdom totally freaked out. “How could you?” they wanted to know. “This is a breech in hospitality!” they said. “You have offended Zeus himself!” they said. This was a big deal. Zeus was a very important god and hospitality is what helped keep nations at peace with one another. Paris was inhospitable when he stole Menalaus’ wife, Helen, and that led to a war!

“My angry Lydians,” said Gyges, “be calm. Let us ask the Oracle what to do.”

The people shut up and nodded their heads. “This is a great idea,” they said, for the Oracle was blessed by the god Apollo and could give out wisdom and riddles of the future. Therefore, they sent a message all the way across the Agean sea to the Oracle at Delphi, known as the Pythia, and asked her what they should do about Gyges.

The messenger came back and told them this: “Gyges is allowed to rule, but in only a few generations his descendant will have to pay the price for him. This will occur when a mule sits on the throne of the Medes.”

The Lydians rejoiced! The Oracle said it was okay, which meant that the people of Sardis would not be held accountable for shedding the blood of a king. The message of the Oracle was written down and tucked away in an archive somewhere, not to be remembered for generations to come.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Kleomenes/Cleomenes

Kleomenes (also known as Cleomenes) was once a king of Sparta, back in the ancient Greek/Hellenic world.

His father had two wives, which was unusual at the time. Kleomenes was the first-born of one mother, and his brother, Dorieus, was the first-born of the other mother. Both claimed they had right to the throne.

Kleomenes, the favoured son, was given the throne. He was married and had a daughter named Gorgo. Kleomenes, Herodotus tells us, was a little bit cray-cray.

---

In 499 BC/E Aristagoras came to him for help, trying to convince him to lend him aid in an uprising against Darius, king of Persia. Kleomenes turned him down. Aristagoras tried a second time, coming to the king with an olive branch as a sign of peace. However, with the help of his daughter, Gorgo, he was able to realize that Aristagoras was trying to corrupt Kleomenes and the kingdom of Sparta through the promise of gold and honour and glory.

---

At this time there were two kings of Sparta. The co-ruler with Kleomenes was a man named Demaratos. Kleomenes did not like this man, but preferred a man named Leotychides to be his partner in ruling. Kleomenes and Leotychides began to spread rumours about Demaratos.

You see, there was doubt as to whether or not Demaratos was actually the son of the king.

Eventually, through use of these rumours, Kleomenes was able to get that which he desired. Demaratos was deposed and Leotychides became king.

---

One day Kleomebes decided to destroy a sacred place.

This drove him to madness. He was only, Herodotus tells us, "slightly deranged" before this. But now? Now he was full-blown touched-by-the-gods mentally unwell. His people were forced to lock up his feet in stocks and set a guard to watch over him.

"Please, please," begged Kleomenes of one of the guards, "let me have your dagger!" The guard tried and tried and tried to refuse. It was no use. The king was insistent and brought terror to the poor guard's heart. The guard handed over the dagger. Kleomenes then began to flay himself alive, starting at the ankles and working his way up until he died - probably from blood loss.

Some people say that he killed himself in this way because he desecrated a place that was holy to the gods and the guilt drove him to madness and death. It is a lesson to us all not to mess with that which should remain intact.

---

Questions:

- Kleomenes was king of what city?
- Who saved Kleomenes from listening to Aristagoras?
- Why, according to Herodotus' account, did Kleomenes kill himself?

Gorgo

Gorgo was a female Spartan. She was born to Kleomenes (also known as Cleomenes) around the year 507/508 BC/E.

When she was about 8 or 9 years old in the year 499 BC/E a man named Aristagoras came to Sparta and tried to convince her father to join his army and fight against Darius, king of Persia. Kleomenes very nearly accepted - until he learned that once they got across the sea it was then a full three months journey until they reached the Persian capital of Susa. There was no way Spartans were going to travel three whole months away from the sea across a giant stretch of land. Kleomenes demanded that Aristagoras leave.


He did. But not forever.


Aristagoras tried one more time to convince the king. He came, bearing an olive branch as a sign of peace. He came before the king...


... And then stopped. For there, in the company of the king, was a very young girl.


"Who is this?" Aristagoras sneered.


"This is my daughter, Gorgo," Kleomenes replied. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of her."


Aristagoras ignored the girl and began to try and convince Kleomenes to help him, telling him of all the gold, and glory, and honour that he could win for himself and his country.


Gorgo shouted out: "Do not listen to him, father! For he is trying to corrupt you."


Now, something to know about Kleomenes, is that he did NOT often listen to other people's advice. It was a common problem in the 400's BC/E. BUT this time he did. He slapped his hands over his ears and told Aristagoras to leave his country.


---


Eight years later in 491 BC/E Gorgo's father died. He was quite crazy-pants at the time and killed himself in a rather violent and brutal way. Gorgo would have known about this. She would have only been about sixteen at the time.


By this time she would have been married. Although the exact date is not certain, sometimes between 499-491 BC/E Gorgo's father gave her to her uncle, Leonidas, in marriage.


We do not know how she felt about any of this: her father's death, her marriage to her uncle... But we do have one more story about her.


---


In the year 480 BC/E there was the well-known Battle of Thermopylae. Well, before that, in about 485 BC/E, when Gorgo would have been 22/23 years old, she was married to Leonidas and living peacefully in Sparta.


One day a mysterious gift was sent to Sparta. It was a wax tablet without any markings on it. Many men looked at it, passing it back and forth, wondering what it all could mean. It was Gorgo, son of a king, who was able to figure it out. She told the men to melt the wax off of the wooden tablet to see what was underneath. They did so and found a message from an exiled-king, Demaratos, telling them that the king of Persia, Xerxes, was going to attack their land. If it were not for Gorgo, they probably would never have figure out the message.


---


Questions:


-Where did Gorgo live?


- Who was Gorgo the daughter of?


- Who did she marry and how was he related to her?


- What actions show us that Gorgo was an intelligent and brave woman?

Herodotus!

Listed Below are Links to the Stories I have re-written, or will be writing in the future, all culled from Herodotus' Histories. (I am leaning heavily on the Landmark Herodotus as translated by Purvis.)

Sparta


- Kleomenes

- Gorgo
- Doreios
- Demaratos
- Leotychides
- Leonidas

Mede/Persia


- Cyrus

- Darius
- Xerxes

MORE TO COME