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“But after Solon’s departure divine retribution fell heavily on Croesus; as I guess, because he supposed himself to be blessed beyond all other men.”
HERODOTUS, HISTORIES, BOOK 1.34; A. D. GODLEY TRANSLATION
Summary
After Solon left, Croesus had a dream that one of his sons, Atys, would be killed by a spear. As Atys was the one meant to succeed Croesus, he was very alarmed. Croesus immediately got his son a wife and prohibited him from going out to any expedition with his troops (Atys was a commander). He also gathered all the spears in the palace, even the ones that hung on the walls, and secured them in a storeroom.
During this time, Croesus was visited by a suppliant named Adrastus.1 Adrastus had accidentally killed his brother and was banished by his father. He came to Croesus for help and for purification. Croesus gladly purified Adrastus and took him into his household.
Shortly after Adrastus’ arrival, a large boar began terrorizing the Mysians.2 They sent messengers to Croesus asking for help. Croesus began gathering his best hunters to send to the Mysians, but refused to send his son Atys. When Atys learned of this, he confronted his father as to why. Croesus told Atys about the dream and Atys responded that he would be fine, as boars do not use spears. Croesus reluctantly agreed to let Atys go and asked Adrastus to go on the hunt and look after him.
The group goes to the Mysians to confront and kill the boar. While they had the boar surrounded, they threw their spears. Adrastus missed the boar and ended up killing Atys. When Croesus heard the news, he was devastated. When the group got back, Adrastus presented himself to Croesus and offered his life to him. Croesus took pity on him and refused to kill him However, after Atys was buried, Adrastus killed himself at the tomb.
Recall the Prophecy
The fact that Croesus would experience tragedy had been predicted long before he was born. Recall that, after Gyges overthrew the Heraclidae (the previous dynasty to rule Lydia), this was said of Gyges’ dynasty:
However, the Pythian priestess declared that the Heraclidae would have vengeance on Gyges’ posterity in the fifth generation; an utterance to which the Lydians and their kings paid no regard until it was fulfilled.
Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.13; A. D. Godley translation
The Lydian kings of the new dynasty were:
Gyges → Ardys → Sadyattes → Alyattes → Croesus
Croesus was the fifth generation. The Pythian priestess’ declaration was being fulfilled.
However, as I’ve been titling these sections “The Rise and Fall of Croesus”, we know that the accidental death of Croesus’ son is not going to be the ultimate reason why Croesus’ life will be tragic.
On a side note: the last sentence in that passage, “an utterance to which the Lydians and their kings paid no regard until it was fulfilled” also stuck out to me. It reminds me of governments today and how they are kicking the looming problems we are about to face down the road. Putting it on the shoulders of future generations so the current generation of politicians won’t have to deal with it (and potentially lose their positions of power in the process).
Dad of the Year
In this section, we learn about how Croesus is as a father. It’s not good.
First, we learn that Croesus had two sons. There’s Atys, whom Croesus has high hopes for succeeding him on the throne. However, we learn that Croesus had another son. We don’t learn his name, but we do learn he was mute and therefore considered “ruined.” Croesus thinks so little of his mute son that he tells Atys:
“You are my only son: for that other, since he is ruined, he doesn’t exist for me.”
Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.38; A. D. Godley translation
Can you imagine being that son? Utterly rejected by your father because you’re mute? Being considered a ruined man because you’re unable to talk?
Sure, you could say he was not fit to become the next king if the king really needed his voice in order to rule. But to say he was ruined and that he doesn’t exist in Croesus’ eyes? That’s something else entirely. That’s saying the son was an embarrassment to Croesus.
Second, just before he told Atys his other son doesn’t exist, he tells Atys his motivation for keeping his dream from being fulfilled:
“So that perhaps I may rob death of you during my lifetime.”
Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.38; A. D. Godley translation
I could be reading too deeply into this, but it seems like Croesus is saying that as long as his son is able to succeed him, that’s all that matters. What happens after Croesus is dead is none of his concern. In other words, Croesus’ image and reputation comes first.
Put both of these examples together and Croesus comes across as a very selfish father. I don’t know if it’s because of the era that Croesus lived in (and here I am in a completely other era and culture judging him) or if it’s Croesus’ hubris that led him to spurn one son, dote on the other, and think only of his image and reputation.
Adrastus’ Misfortune
Adrastus is a tragic character. He accidentally kills his brother and is banished as a result. He makes himself a suppliant under Croesus who treats him well. And then he accidentally kills Croesus’ son. Croesus refuses to kill him over Atys’ corpse, so he later commits suicide before his tomb.
Adrastus’ life didn’t have to be so tragic if he had just taken Croesus’ advice though. When Croesus accepted him as a suppliant, he told him:
All of your family are my friends, and you have come to friends, where you shall lack nothing, staying in my house. As for your misfortune, bear it as lightly as possible and you will gain most.”
Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.35; A. D. Godley translation
However, Adrastus never took this advice to heart. When Croesus asked him to accompany the party hunting the boar and look after his son, Adrastus is reluctant:
“One so unfortunate as I should not associate with the prosperous among his peers; nor have I the wish to do so, and for many reasons I would have held back.”
Herodotus, Histories, Book 1.42; A. D. Godley translation
Adrastus did not bear his misfortune “as lightly as possible.” In fact, he clung to it so hard that he felt that all he deserved was death. And eventually, he inflicted that death upon himself.
This story hits a bit hard. We all know to one degree or another what Adrastus went through. A mistake, a bad behavior, a terrible or stupid decision, that we did in the past, that we let affect us today.
The guilt weighs us down like a backpack full of rocks. We believe letting this guilt weigh us down, hold us back, is proper penance for our past actions. To move on would be a sin—a slap in the face of the person or people we wronged or hurt.
However, while the guilt punishes us, as we feel we deserve, it also causes us to make more mistakes and bad decisions—as what happened to Adrastus. And we add a few more rocks to the backpack.
Maybe we could do with taking Creosus’ advice. He didn’t tell Adrastus to forget his misfortune. He told him to “bear it as lightly as possible.” In other words, don’t forget about what you did, but don’t let it negatively affect you. Wear it like a scar rather than a burden. A reminder rather than a crutch.
If Adrastus had taken Croesus’ advice, I wonder if he wouldn’t have accidentally killed Atys? Adrastus would have had more self-confidence. His mind would have been clear, rather than addled by his guilt and inferiority.
That's all for the Histories, Book 1.34-45.
May your days be filled with grace.
-Andronikos
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Thumbnail: Croesus Showing Solon His Treasures by Claude Vignon. 1630s. Public domain.
1Herodotus mentions that Adrastus’ father is Gordias and his grandfather is Midas. These are not to be confused with the Gordias and Midas of Greek mythology, who, if they were real people, would have lived centuries before this point. Gordias was the founder of Phrygia and is associated with the famous Gordian Knot (an intricate knot that, according to legend, the one who untangled it would rule Asia). His son, Midas, is the famed King Midas whose touch turned anything to gold.
2The Mysians are one of the peoples that Croesus conquered while he was expanding the Lydian empire (see 1.28).