Sadyattes/Myrsilus/Candaules

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Sadyattes I: last king of the Heraclid dynasty of Lydia, succeeded in c.680 BCE by Gyges, the founder of the Mermnad dynasty. Also known as Candaules and Myrsilus.

King Sadyattes of Lydia is hardly more than a name - but it is probably the real name of a man who is better known as Candaules or Myrsilus. All names have a special meaning.

We know hardly anything about the reign of Sadyattes, but it is almost certain that he was a local ruler, subject to king Midas of Phrygia. However, in 696/695, he was defeated by the Cimmerians and committed suicide. His capital Gordium was destroyed. Probably, Sadyattes / Candaules / Myrsilus was unable to stand his ground, and was deposed by a military leader, Gyges.

The fall of Sadyattes is the subject of one of the most famous Greek fairy tales, told by Herodotus of Halicarnassus. You can read it here.

This page was created in 2003; last modified on 26 October 2018.