Croesus

Croesus (pronounced CREE-sus, IPA {{IPA|}}, the Latin transliteration of the Greek Kροισος, in Persian قارون Qârun), who was legendary for his enormous wealth, was king of Lydia from 560 BC until his defeat by the Persians in about 547 BC. He was the son of Alyattes and continued his father's policy of conquering the Ionian cities of Asia Minor, but was friendlier to the Greeks than his father had been, giving refuge at one point to the Athenian statesman Solon. It was said that Adrastus exiled himself to Lydia after accidentally killing his brother. King Croesus welcomed him but then Adrastus accidentally killed Croesus' son, Atys. He then committed suicide.

Resources

• Herodotus' account of Croesus (from the Perseus Project): see 1.6-94; contains links to both English and Greek versions
• An in-depth account of Croesus' life, by Carlos Parada