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Gyges is called son of ‘Dascylus’ (Nic. Dam., fr. 49; F. H. G. iii. 383), a name which suggests ‘Dascyleum’, a town on the southeast of the Propontis, which gave its name to a Persian satrapy. This connexion agrees with the Northern origin suggested for the Mermnadae (App. I. 8), and would explain why a town, otherwise unimportant, was made a centre of Persian government, as being the origin of an earlier royal house.

ὑπερετίθετο, ‘communicated’ (cf. 107. 1); it governs also τὸ εἶδος, ὑπερεπαινέων being added epexegetically.

It is curious that the only other story of Candaules also implies aesthetic enthusiasm; he bought a picture by Bularchus of the ‘proelium Magnetum’ for its weight in gold (Plin. N. H. xxxv. 55). Radet (p. 131) accepts both stories. It is safer to reject both; but if the ‘battle of the Magnesia’ be a reality and be that against the Cimmerians, their raids must be antedated.


Some suppose H. to be imitating Heraclitus (fr. 15) ὀφθαλμοὶ τῶν ὤτων ἀκριβέστεροι μάρτυρες; but the sentiment is a common one (cf. ‘seeing is believing’) and the verbal resemblance nil. The gnomic character of the story is obvious; cf. σκοπέειν τινὰ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ.

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    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 35.55
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