King of Lydia Croesus. Croesus - The richest king of Lydia The ancient state where Croesus was the king

Over the course of a millennium, one after another, states arose, flourished and disappeared on the coast of the Ionian Sea and the adjacent islands. Each of them left something that its neighbors and heirs adapted for their own culture. Of all the great civilizations that flourished and disappeared in ancient Anatolia, Lydia is not among the most famous. The Lydians spoke a European language and lived in Anatolia after about 2000 BC. e. They formed a small state under the auspices of the Mermnad dynasty, which began in the 7th century. BC, but at its peak, Lydia was little more than a sprawling city-state that emerged from Sardis (Sard). The rulers of Lydia were not sung in myth or song as great warriors, conquerors, builders, or even lovers.

The names of dynasties and rulers are known to us thanks to the Hittite tablets and the books of the Greek historian Herodotus, and only one name from ancient Lydia is generally known today - Croesus. "Rich as Croesus" is a common expression in modern English, Turkish and other languages ​​of the world.

Croesus ascended the Lydian throne in 560 BC. and began to rule the kingdom, which was already rich. His predecessors created a solid economic basis for the welfare of the state, producing some of the finest perfumes and cosmetics of the ancient world. Yet these goods alone could not raise Croesus to the level of wealth that myths ascribe to him. He owes this to one invention of his predecessors - coins, a new revolutionary form of money.

Something that looks like money and something that looks like markets can be found in Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and other parts of the world, but they didn't actually use coins until the rise of Lydia and the subsequent minting of the first coins, between 640 and 630 BC. BC. The genius of the rulers of Lydia can be seen in their recognition of the need to make small and easily transportable ingots, costing no more than a few days' labor or a small fraction of an agricultural crop. By making these small ingots of a standardized size and weight, and stamping on them with an emblem proving their worth even to the illiterate, the kings of Lydia greatly expanded the possibilities of commercial enterprise.

The Lydians made the first coins from an alloy of gold and silver. They were oval, several times thicker than modern coins, and the size of an adult's thumb. To ensure their authenticity, the king had to stamp each of them with the emblem of a lion's head. This simultaneously flattened the lumps, which marked the beginning of the transformation of the oval ingot into a flat and round coin. By making nuggets of the same weight and approximately the same size, the king eliminated one of the time-consuming steps in commerce: the need to weigh gold at each transaction. Now merchants could determine the value with words or simply by counting the number of coins. This standardization greatly reduced the possibility of deception in the quantity and quality of gold and silver in exchange. You didn't have to be an expert in weights or metal purity to buy a basket of wheat, a pair of sandals, or an amphora of olive oil. The use of coins that were weighed and stamped at the state mint made it possible to conduct transactions faster and more honestly, to participate in commerce, even without having scales. Commerce with coins opened up new horizons for new segments of the population.

The wealth of Croesus and his predecessors grew not from conquest, but from trade. During his reign (560-546 BC), Croesus created new coins from pure gold and silver, in contrast to the previous alloy. Using the new coins that appeared as a standard medium of exchange, Lydian merchants traded daily necessities - grain, oil, beer, wine, leather, utensils and wood, as well as such valuable goods as perfumes, cosmetics, precious jewelry, musical instruments, glazed ceramics, bronze figurines, angora goat hair, marble and ivory.

The variety and abundance of commercial goods soon led to another innovation, the retail market. The rulers of Sardis introduced a new system whereby anyone, even an outsider, if he had something to sell, could come to the central market, instead of looking for a house where someone could buy his oil or jewelry. Countless shops lined the market, and each merchant specialized in a particular commodity. One sold meat, the other grain. One sold jewelry, the other clothes. One is musical instruments, the other is pots. This market system began at the end of the 7th century. BC BC, but her legacy can be clearly seen later in Greece, in the medieval marketplaces of northern Europe, and in the suburban shopping centers of the modern United States.

Trade became so important to the Lydians that Herodotus called them a nation of kapeloi, which means "trader" or "seller", but with a somewhat negative hidden meaning - "small merchant". Herodotus saw that the Lydians had become a nation of merchants. They have turned ordinary trade and barter into commerce.

The commercial revolution in the city of Sardis brought about changes that spread widely throughout Lydia society. Herodotus reported with great astonishment the Lydian custom of allowing women to choose their own husbands. Thanks to the accumulated coins, women became more free to collect their own dowry and thus gained greater freedom in choosing a husband.

New services quickly entered the market. No sooner had the first shops opened than some enterprising businessman offered to people engaged in commerce a house specializing in sexual services. The first known brothels were built in ancient Sardis. In order to collect dowries for themselves, many unmarried women of Sardis may have worked in brothels long enough to save up the money needed for the kind of marriage they desired.

Gambling soon appeared, and the Lydians chalked up the invention of not only coins, but also dice. Archaeological excavations have clearly shown that gambling, including grandma, flourished in the area around the market.

Commerce created fabulous wealth for Croesus, but he and the noble families squandered their fortunes. They developed an insatiable appetite for luxury goods and became involved in the game of increasing consumerism. Each family, for example, tried to erect a larger headstone than neighboring families. They decorated monuments with ivory and marble ornaments, arranged elaborate funerals, burying their dead relatives with gold ribbons on their heads, with bracelets and rings. Instead of increasing their wealth, they destroyed what was accumulated by their ancestors. The elite of Sardis used their new wealth to consume instead of putting it into production.

Eventually Croesus poured his wealth into the two bottomless wells of consumption so common among rulers: buildings and soldiers. He conquered and built. Croesus used his vast wealth to conquer almost all of the Greek cities of Asia Minor, including the magnificent Ephesus, which he then rebuilt in an even grander style. Although he was a Lydian and not a Greek, Croesus had a great love for the culture of Greece, including its language and religion. Being an admirer of Greece, he ruled the Greek cities with ease.

In a famous episode in Greek history, Croesus asked a Greek oracle what chances he had in a war against Persia. The oracle replied that if he attacked mighty Persia, the great empire would fall. Croesus took the prediction as favorable and attacked the Persians. In the bloody massacre of 547-546. BC. the empire that fell was the trading empire of the Lydians. Cyrus easily defeated Croesus' mercenary army and marched on the Lydian capital of Sardis.

While the Persian army plundered and burned the wealth of Sardis, Cyrus taunted Croesus, boasting about what his soldiers were doing to the city and the wealth of the great Croesus.

Croesus replied to Cyrus: “This is no longer mine. Now I own nothing. This is your city, they are destroying and stealing your wealth."

With the conquest of Lydia by Cyrus, the reign of Croesus ended, his Mermnad dynasty died, and the kingdom of Lydia disappeared from the pages of history. Although the great state of Lydia and its rulers never resurfaced, the influence of this small and relatively unknown kingdom remained large, disproportionate to its geographic size and comparatively minor role in ancient history. All neighboring peoples quickly adopted the Lydian practice of coin production, and the commercial revolution spread throughout the Mediterranean world, in particular in the closest neighboring state to Lydia - Greece.

CROESUS(Kroisos) (c. 595 - after 529 BC), the last ruler of the ancient Lydian kingdom. Son of King Lydia Alyatta (c. 610–560 BC) of the Mermnad dynasty; mother is from Kariya. In the 560s. BC. was a Lydian governor in Mysia (a region in the northwest of Asia Minor). Shortly before his death, his father appointed him as his heir. Took the throne ca. 560 BC at the age of thirty-five. Having come to power, he ordered to kill another contender for the crown - his half-brother Pantaleon.

In the early 550s BC. went on a campaign to the Greek policies (city-states) on the western coast of Asia Minor and forced them to pay tribute to him. He also planned to subdue the islands inhabited by the Greeks in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea (Samos, Chios, Lesbos) and set about building a fleet, but then abandoned his plans; according to ancient tradition, he made this decision under the influence of the Greek sage Biant of Priene. He conquered all of Asia Minor up to the river. Galis (modern Kyzyl-Irmak), except for Lycia and Cilicia. He created a vast power, which, in addition to Lydia proper, included Ionia, Aeolis, Doris of Asia Minor, Phrygia, Mysia, Bithynia, Paphlagonia, Caria and Pamphylia; these areas appear to have retained considerable internal autonomy.

He was famous for his exorbitant wealth; hence the saying "rich as Croesus" came from. Considered himself the happiest man on earth; the legend tells of a visit to him by the Athenian sage and politician Solon, who refused to call the king happy, because a person’s happiness can only be judged after his death (this legend is hardly based on real facts).

He maintained friendly relations with the Median kingdom, which was ruled by his brother-in-law Astyages, and the states of Balkan Greece ( cm. ANCIENT GREECE). Patronized the Delphic oracle of the god Apollo ( cm. DELPHI) and the Theban oracle of the hero Amphiaraus; sent them rich gifts.

After the absorption of Media by the Persians c. 550 BC organized a coalition with Sparta, Babylon and Egypt against the Persian king Cyrus II ( cm. KIR the Great). Having received, as Herodotus reports ( cm. HERODOTUS), an auspicious prediction from the Delphic oracle (“Galis crossing the river, Croesus will destroy the vast kingdom”), invaded in the autumn of 546 BC. into Cappadocia, dependent on the Persians, devastated it and captured the Cappadocian cities. He gave Cyrus II a battle at Pteria, which did not bring victory to either side, after which he returned to Lydia and disbanded the mercenary army for the winter. However, unexpectedly for him, Cyrus II moved deep into the Lydian state and approached its capital - Sardam. Croesus managed to gather only a small cavalry army, which was defeated by the Persians in the battle of Sardis. After a 14-day siege, the Lydian capital was taken, Croesus was captured and sentenced to be burned. According to legend, at the stake, he uttered the name of Solon three times; upon hearing this, Cyrus II demanded an explanation and, having learned from the convict about his meeting with the Athenian sage, pardoned him and even made him his closest adviser.

In 545 BC, after the uprising of Paktia in Lydia, he dissuaded Cyrus II from the intention to destroy Sardis and sell all the Lydians into slavery. In 529 BC during the campaign of Cyrus II against the Massagets, he convinced the Persian king to fight on the land of the nomads, and not on his own territory. After the death of Cyrus II, he retained a high position at the court of his son and heir Cambyses (529-522 BC). The further fate of Croesus is unknown.

Ivan Krivushin

Cyrus did not take revenge on Astyages. He released him from prison, allowed him to live in his house and even ordered him to be honored as a former king and as his grandfather. Only he did not allow him to interfere in state affairs and did not listen to either his advice or his censures.

Cyrus did not enslave or humiliate Media. He united it with Persia, and both peoples became one state.

He did not ruin the capital of the defeated king, as was the custom among the kings of Asia. Ecbatany remained the capital on a par with the large Persian cities of Pasargadae and Susa.

Cyrus loved Pasargadae.

In this city, as the most fortified, his treasures, his state treasury were kept. There were also the tombs of his Persian ancestors.

But, having become king, Cyrus saw that these cities and all of Persia lay on the outskirts of his large state. And what is much more convenient for his plans to establish a royal residence in Susa, or in Shushan, as they said then.

The region of Susiaia was located in the depths of the country, closer to Babylonia, by the sea, and its coast stretched almost to the very mouth of the Tigris.

Cyrus adorned and fortified Susa. He erected strong city walls of baked bricks and asphalt. He built a palace there, which was more luxurious than all the palaces of Persia and Media.

Susiana was a very fertile country. In the river Hoasp, on which Susa stood, there was unusually fresh and clear water.

However, in Susa, Cyrus lived only in winter. The high mountains in the north of Susiana intercepted the cold north winds, and they passed overhead, bypassing Susa. Therefore, in the summer months, the earth simply burned from the heat there.

“... In the summer, when the sun is hottest, around noon,” says the ancient Greek geographer and historian Strabo, “lizards and snakes do not have time to cross the streets in the city, but in the middle of the road they burn out ... Cold bathing water, exposed to the sun, immediately heats up, and barley grains scattered in a place open to the sun begin to jump like grains in a drying oven.

Because of this heat, the inhabitants had to cover the roofs with a thick layer of earth to shelter from the sun.

Cyrus, who grew up in the cold mountainous Media, could not stand this heat and moved to Pasargada for the summer, and most often to the city of his childhood - Ecbatana, where the royal palace still stood behind seven walls.

Three years after the war with Astyages, Cyrus was engaged in the organization of his state. He united the Median provinces around him, tried to negotiate with them peacefully, convinced that, united, they would all be stronger and more secure. He often succeeded. And when he failed, he went with the army and conquered the intractable tribes.

So, gradually, Cyrus was preparing for a big war, for big conquests - for a campaign against Babylon, which from time immemorial threatened his homeland with war and ruin.

He also tried to negotiate with the Hellenic colonies that lay on the flowering coast of the restless Aegean Sea. The Hellenes paid tribute to the Lydian king Croesus, but lived independently in their cities.

This coast went to the Hellenes at the cost of wars and cruelty. Carian tribes used to live here - Kars, Lelegs ... Settlers from the island of Crete, who were taken in by the Carians, also lived here. And many more different tribes mixed with the Carians.

But the Ionians sailed from Athens and conquered the great Carian city of Miletus. They killed all the men and then married their wives and daughters and stayed in Miletus. It is said that the Milesian women did not forgive them for this. They swore themselves and passed this oath to their daughters: never to sit at the same table with their husbands and never to call them by name for what they did in Miletus.

Now, when Cyrus turned to the Ionian alliance of twelve Hellenic cities and invited them to secede from Croesus and go over to his side, only Miletus agreed to this.

Cyrus concluded an agreement with Miletus, and declared war against the rest of the Ionian cities.

All the actions of Cyrus were watched with great anxiety by the king of Lydia Croesus. He saw how Cyrus was gaining military strength, how his power was growing. Cyrus did not yet touch his possessions and did not declare war on him, but he seized the lands bordering Lydia. Who can guarantee that tomorrow he will not cross the Lydian border? The border of the Lydian kingdom was the river Halys. This river began in the mountains of Armenia and crossed almost all of Asia. And ancient historians and geographers usually said so: "On the other side of Galis" or: "On this side of Galis."

Now this river is called Kyzyl-Yarmak, which means "Red Water". Her water is indeed reddish, because in the mountains it erodes rock salt and red marl clays.

The ancient Greeks called it Khalis, which means "salt marsh". The reddish waters of Galis flowed among lands where there were many salt marshes. The salt marshes gleamed sharp white against the gray deserted shores.

On the other side of Galis began the rich fertile valleys of Lydia. Generous crops and orchards, pastures blooming with herbs, an abundance of lakes and rivers, an abundance of hot sun ...

The Lydian king Croesus was famous for his power and wealth. His father Aliattes reigned for a long time and fought a lot. Croesus, after his death, continued to fight and seize nearby lands. The whole country to the west of Cappadocia was subject to him - the Misyans, the Paphlagonians, the Bithynians, the Carians. Many tribes of the Hellenes who settled on the Asian coast of the blue Aegean Sea paid tribute to him. Therefore, Croesus was then called "Lord of the Tribes."

The capital of Lydia - Sardis was proud of its splendor and impregnability of a well-fortified Kremlin. Above Sardis shone the snowy peak of Tmola. Its slopes, rich in forests and pastures, filled the city with a fresh breath of pine and beech. The river Paktol, running from Tmola, brought an abundance of clear water to Sardis. Pactol diligently eroded the gold mine in the mountains and, as if serving Croesus, carried gold dust to his treasury.

But not only the gold of Tmol enriched Croesus. The Lydian kingdom lay on a great trade route between the West and the East. This route was safer than the sea, and therefore caravans loaded with various goods went here one after another.

Lydia traded both with the West and with the East, and even with the Greek states - those that lay in Asia Minor, and those that were in Europe.

This trade enriched Croesus so much that his wealth became a proverb, and when money was not yet known in other Asian countries, coins were already minted in Lydia.

Beneath Sardis, a flourishing plain spread out far around, full of beauty and tranquility. Cultivated fields, olives, vineyards brought their sunny fruits. There were also plantations of moraine, which was used to dye wool, and this dye was not inferior to purple and cochineal.

Rivers flowing from the mountains irrigated the plain. In the spring, their flood was so wide that it was necessary to dig a reservoir forty stadia from Sardis to collect hollow waters. So the round lake Kolo was artificially created. There, around the lake, in the silence of the mountains and water, stood the burial mounds of the Lydian kings - earthen hills on round stone foundations. And the highest mound was the tomb of King Aliatt.

Croesus was the king of the strong state of Lydia, located in the western part of Asia Minor. His very name became a household name in antiquity ("rich as Croesus"). Among the Greeks, both in Asia Minor, who were subjects of Croesus, and in the Balkans, there were many legends about Croesus on the theme of the vicissitudes of human destiny.

Never since Croesus took the throne in Sardis has such a revival been remembered there. Every now and then, messengers ran out of the palace gates and, sitting on horses, rushed to one or another city gate. Masses of people flocked to the palace. By their clothes one could recognize the Chaldeans, Hellenes, Cappadocians.

The reason for the commotion was the news that a certain, whose name in Lydian means "shepherd", overthrew the king of the Medes Astyages and threatens the security of the kingdom. The messengers of Croesus were sent to all the kings - allies of Lydia with a proposal to join forces to overthrow this Cyrus and return power to Astyages. Some moved to Babylonia, where Nabonidus ruled, others to the king of Egypt Amasis, others to distant Italy, to the Etruscan kings, who considered themselves descendants of the Lydians. Another embassy with rich gifts was sent to Delphi to the Pythia with the question of whether he, Croesus, should go to war with the Persians. The oracle's answer was favorable: "If you, the king, cross Galis, the great kingdom will fall."

Having received this prediction, Croesus, without waiting for the approach of the Allied forces, crossed with the army of Galis and pitched a camp near Pteria, in Cappadocia. Cyrus, having gathered his army, moved to Cappadocia, joining along the way detachments of the peoples through whose lands he passed. And for the first time on the land of Pteria, the Lydians and the Persians faced off. The battle was fierce and bloody, but neither side prevailed. Crossing Halys in the opposite direction, Croesus returned to Sardis, where he learned that in his absence the banks of the river Herma, on which the capital stood, were filled with snakes from nowhere. The horses of the royal herds attacked the snakes and ate them, and this was considered a miracle. For his explanation, an embassy was sent to Telmess. The oracle Telmess gave the following interpretation to the miracle: snakes are the offspring of their native land, and horses are aliens. Therefore, the king should expect the invasion of a foreign people, raising horses, which will devour his kingdom.

And so it happened. Cyrus moved to Sardis immediately, without waiting for help to come to Croesus. Opponents converged on a plain devoid of vegetation under Sardis. The Lydians put up a cavalry army armed with spears made of Magnesian iron. Horses that had eaten snakes neighed all the time and rushed into battle. Hearing these sounds, the horses of Cyrus tucked their tails in fright. And he summoned Cyrus Harpag to himself to ask him what to do. Harpagus advised to put pack animals, mules and camels in front, and put foot soldiers on them in the robes of horsemen, but with akinaki. Harpagus knew that horses were afraid of camels, and in close combat the Persians were stronger than the pampered Lydians. And so it happened. Croesus' horse attack ended in failure. The horses, frightened by the camels, threw off the Lydian horsemen. In close combat, the Persians defeated the warriors of Croesus and moved to Sardis.

Three times in half a month the Persians attacked a well-fortified city and rolled back with heavy losses. Then Cyrus announced that he would reward royally the first one who climbed the city wall. The lucky one turned out to be Giread from the bandit tribe of the Mards. He drew attention to the place of the acropolis, where it was facing the lowland and cut off by a steep rock. Due to inaccessibility, this place was not guarded. Only once a warrior appeared there and began to look for something below. His helmet fell off his head. Going down, the Lydian picked him up. In the same way, Giread climbed the wall, followed by other soldiers. So Sardis was taken from the side of the acropolis, and not from the lower city, where they were expected.

Croesus fled the palace with his deaf-mute son. The Persian who pursued him did not know the king by sight. Looking around, the boy saw that the warrior was raising a spear to throw, and in fear for the first time in his life he spoke: “Man! Don't kill Croesus!"

The king was taken to Cyrus in chains. Cyrus ordered the shackles to be removed from him and seated next to him. Croesus was silent for a long time, and then turned to Cyrus with this question: “What is some horde doing with such fury behind the door?” Cyrus replied: "They plunder the city and plunder your treasures." “I have no more city and treasure,” said Croesus. “It is they who plunder your property.” Cyrus called messengers, intending to send them to stop the robbery. Croesus held him back. “If you want to listen to my advice, do this: put a guard at the gate, and let it take away a tenth from those who go out to dedicate it to your god Ahuramazda. Then they will not hate you, but they will understand the justice of your actions and even give the booty voluntarily.

Taking this advice, Cyrus understood the wisdom of Croesus and asked him himself: “Croesus! Ask me for whatever mercy you please." “Lord,” answered Croesus, “if you are so kind, then order these chains to be sent to Delphi, to the Hellenic god, whom I honored above others, and he deceived me.” "What was his deception?" Kirk asked in surprise. "In that he encouraged me to start a war against you."

Cyrus complied with the request of Croesus. The Lydians, who had previously been sent with the most precious royal gifts, appeared with iron fetters and, handing them to the high priest, recalled this prophecy. The priest did not accept the shackles, but said: “Even a god cannot avoid the predetermined fate. The king complains unfairly about the oracle given to him. After all, he was told that by crossing the Galis, he would destroy the great kingdom. And he destroyed it. That kingdom was Lydia."

After waiting for this answer, Cyrus left Sardis with Croesus. On the way to Pasargada, he was overtaken by the news of the uprising of the Lydians, led by Paktia. Cyrus became furious and set out to destroy Sardis, and turn the Lydians into their slaves without exception. Croesus managed to dissuade him from this. “Against you, king,” he said, “people rebelled, not houses, you punish them, while only the instigators of the rebellion, and don’t touch the rest.” "But they will rise again!" replied the Persian. “There is a sure remedy against this,” continued the Lydian. “Open markets in Sardis at all crossroads. And let the townspeople sell them onions, carrots, apples and other food, as well as nails, knives, robes and other trifles. Order them also to wear puffy chitons with long sleeves and high shoes that hinder movement. After that, - believe me, - the Lydians will soon turn into women, and you will not have to fear a new uprising. Cyrus followed the advice of Croesus, and all the while he conquered other peoples, the Lydians were calm.

Who does not know the expression "rich as Croesus"? Does everyone remember where the wealth of Croesus came from, what became of it and how Croesus' life ended?

Croesus (or Cres) was from the Mermand family. He was born in 595 BC. e. and after the death of his father and a short struggle with his brother, he became king of Lydia. The Lydian kingdom occupied almost the entire western part of Asia Minor (the northwestern part of modern Asian Turkey). Croesus created a vast state, which, in addition to Lydia proper, included Ionia, Aeolis, Doris of Asia Minor, Phrygia, Mysia, Bithynia, Paphlagonia, Caria and Pamphylia. All these areas appear to have retained considerable internal autonomy. Croesus subjugated such Greek cities as Ephesus, Miletus and others. The ruins of these ancient cities are now actively visited by tourists.

Croesus ruled for a relatively short time, from 560 to 546 BC. e. The wealth of this king was connected not only with the lands that were subject to him. He was the first to start minting metal coins, which became a source of fabulous income. Croesus was a fan of Greek culture. He sent rich gifts to the Greek temples at Delphi and Ephesus.

But wealth must be protected - especially from immediate neighbors. Croesus was unlucky. His reign coincided with the rise of the Persian state, headed by the outstanding ruler and military leader Cyrus II. The Persians conquered Media and began to advance on Lydia. The Delphic oracle, in response to a question from Croesus, said that he would crush the mighty kingdom. And the king started the war. After the first battle with a draw, he had to start a retreat to his capital Sardis. But Cyrus swiftly pursued the enemy and defeated the Lydians under the walls of the city. The city began to defend itself, but the Persians managed to find a secret path to the Acropolis and capture the fortress with a sudden blow. King Croesus was captured.

Herodotus and most ancient Greek historians believed that Croesus was sentenced to be burned, but then Cyrus pardoned him. The miraculous story of the salvation of Croesus is as follows. According to legend, the Greek sage Solon visited Sardis. Croesus liked to show his wealth and asked the wise man: “Can the owner of such great wealth be considered truly the happiest of mortals?” To which Solon replied: "No one can be called happy before his death." Already at the stake, Croesus called out to Solon, remembering his words. Cyrus began to explain the essence of the matter, and he gave the order to put out the fire. But the flames flared up so much that the order of Cyrus could not be carried out. It was here that the gifts sent by Croesus to Greek temples came in handy. God Apollo heard the calls of Croesus and brought down a downpour on the ground, extinguishing the fire. After that, Croesus was content with the position of adviser to Cyrus II and his son. By the way, Croesus, as a complaint, sent his shackles to the Delphic oracle. And he received a worthy answer: “You crushed a mighty kingdom. Your own!”

Croesus turned out to be the last king of the Lydian kingdom, which dissolved into the Persian Empire. All the gold of the once rich ruler went to the Persians, and later to Alexander the Great. The minting of coins entered into everyday life, and Croesus himself - into history.