| dc.description.abstract | There are four main stories in ancient literary sources concerning the story of the deposal of Sadyattes by Gyges; a summary of Nicolaus Damascenus, quoting from the Lydian historian Xanthus, a short information related by Plutarch and the texts of Herodotus and Plato which are the best known versions of the story. Nicolaus states that Gyges was going beyond in beauty and stature, impressive with respect to the art of war, best by far at everything compared to his age-mates, and he was particularly skillful in his use of arms and horses. Because of Gyges' exceptional valor King Sadyattes took him as a bodyguard, and when the king decided to marry Tudo of Mysia, he ordered Gyges to escort her to Lydia. Gyges became fascinated with Tudo, and he made advances towards her; she later told the king, who decided to execute his guard. But Gyges and his comrades killed the king before he could give Gyges' punishment. Gyges then ousted his enemies, and after Delphi confirmed his right to rule, the Lydian people accepted Gyges as their king. Thereupon Gyges son of Dascylus became king of the Lydians and married the Mysian woman. Plutarch informs that the kings of Lydia who succeeded the Lydian queen Omphale, carried the double axe as one of their sacred insignia of office, and passed it down from father to son until Sadyattes. Sadyattes, however, did not respect it and gave it to one of his companions to carry. When Gyges rebelled and was making war upon Sadyattes, Arselis came with a force from Mylasa to the assistance of Gyges, slew Sadyattes and his companion, and took the axe to Caria with the other spoils of war. According to Herodotus' story, Sadyattes fell in love with his own wife, and he frequently used boastful language to Gyges that she was the most beautiful of all women. The king was suspicious that Gyges did not trust his boasts. So Sadyattes urged him to hide behind the door of the royal bedroom and watch her strip before going to bed. Gyges protested, arguing that such actions violate ancestral custom, but Sadyattes insisted. That night Gyges did as the king offered, but the queen saw him exiting her bedroom. She understood immediately that her husband was to blame but pretended to be unaware of the crime. Instead she plotted to punish the king for humiliating her. The next day the queen consulted with loyal servants and tempted Gyges to her side. She told him that he must kill Sadyattes, marry her, and become King of Lydia; otherwise Gyges himself would be quickly executed. Gyges chose to survive, and he killed Sadyattes that same night. Plato claims that Gyges was a shepherd who discovered a golden ring. The ring was magical, and Gyges became invisible whenever he rotated its collet inward. After comprehending this power, Gyges immediately made use of it. When Gyges came to Sardis he committed adultery with the king's wife, and after this they plotted against the king and seized his kingdom. It appears that so far there has not been made a detailed and comparative study with regard to the question whether the accounts in these four various sources reflect the historical facts. In this study, by making correlations with the other relevant sources as well, we shall first try to put forward the facts and then explain the fictious parts of these four main accounts together with its reasons. Within these four main accounts the common acceptable facts appear to be following; (a) There happened to be a change in the Lydian dynasty from Heracleids to Mermnads (b) This change had begun with the slaying of the ruler Sadyattes by Gyges (c) As a result of all these Gyges was not only able to access to the throne but also made Sadyattes' ex-wife his queen by marrying with her. When taken into the account the details of these accounts, apart from these common views, it appears that they differ from each other in some aspects. When all these details examined, we assume that the versions of Nicolaus and Plutarch hold more historical realities; according to these accounts, Gyges, having taken military support from abroad as well, succeeded in taking the throne as a result of a long-planned coup. On the other hand, the details in the texts of Herodotus and Plato to a great extent seem to have been invented for political and philosophical reasons. | en_US |
