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.”
