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.
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