When night came, everything was ready for the attack. Gyges knew that there was no way back. He understood that he must either kill King Candaules or lose his own life. With fear and sadness in his heart, he followed the queen into the sleeping chamber.
The queen placed a dagger into Gyges’ hand. She showed him where to hide, behind the same door where he had stood before. She made sure he was well hidden and then left him there in silence. Soon afterward, King Candaules entered the room and lay down to sleep, unaware of the danger that waited for him Gyges Has No Way to Escape.
When the king had fallen into deep sleep, Gyges stepped quietly into the chamber. With one swift action, he struck the king and killed him. In this way, Candaules lost both his life and his kingdom. From that moment, the throne of Lydia passed to Gyges, along with the queen as his wife.
Gyges Becomes King of Lydia
The rule of Gyges did not begin peacefully. When the people of Lydia learned that their king had been murdered, they were filled with anger. Many took up arms and demanded justice. They were loyal to the old royal family, the Heraclides, who had ruled Lydia for many generations.
To prevent civil war, leaders from both sides came together. They agreed that the matter should be decided by the Delphic oracle, which was believed to speak with the voice of the gods. If the oracle declared Gyges to be the rightful king, he would rule. If not, he would give up the throne.
The oracle answered in favor of Gyges. Because of this divine approval, the people accepted him as king. However, the priestess of Delphi also gave a warning. She said that vengeance would come upon Gyges’ family in the fifth generation for the murder of the Heraclides’ king. At the time, neither Gyges nor the Lydians paid attention to this warning. Only many years later would its meaning become clear.
Thus ended the rule of the Heraclides, and thus began the reign of the Mermnadae dynasty, founded by Gyges.
Gifts to the Oracle at Delphi
After securing the throne, Gyges sought to strengthen his position and show gratitude to the gods. He sent rich and generous gifts to the sanctuary at Delphi. These offerings were meant to honor Apollo and to thank the oracle for its support Sofia Day Trip.
Gyges sent large amounts of silver and gold. Among the most famous gifts were six large golden goblets. Together, they weighed about thirty talents, which was an enormous amount. These goblets were placed in the Corinthian treasury at Delphi, a building used to store precious offerings. Though it was called the Corinthian treasury, it was actually built by Cypselus, the ruler of Corinth.
Because of these gifts, Gyges became well known throughout Greece. Except for Midas, king of Phrygia, Gyges was the first non-Greek ruler known to have sent such rich offerings to Delphi. Midas himself had once dedicated his royal throne there, a famous object admired by many visitors.
The Legacy of Gyges
The Delphians later called all the gold and silver dedicated by Gyges “Gygian,” using his name to describe the treasures. His story became well known and was even mentioned by poets of his time.
Gyges rose to power through violence and betrayal, but he ruled as a recognized king. His life shows how ambition, fate, and divine approval were deeply connected in the ancient world. His reign marked a turning point in the history of Lydia, one that would be remembered for generations.