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The Lydians have very nearly the same customs as the Greeks, with
the exception that these last do not bring up their girls in the same
way. So far as we have any knowledge, they were the first nation to
introduce the use of gold and silver coin, and the first who sold goods
by retail. They claim also the invention of all the games which are
common to them with the Greeks. These they declare that they invented
about the time when they colonised Tyrrhenia, an event of which they
give the following account. In the days of Atys, the son of Manes,
there was great scarcity through the whole land of Lydia. For some
time the Lydians bore the affliction patiently, but finding that it
did not pass away, they set to work to devise remedies for the evil.
Various expedients were discovered by various persons; dice, and
huckle-bones, and ball, and all such games were invented, except
tables, the invention of which they do not claim as theirs. The plan
adopted against the famine was to engage in games one day so entirely as
not to feel any craving for food, and the next day to eat and abstain
from games. In this way they passed eighteen years. Still the
affliction continued and even became more grievous. So the king
determined to divide the nation in half, and to make the two portions
draw lots, the one to stay, the other to leave the land. He would
continue to reign over those whose lot it should be to remain behind;
the emigrants should have his son Tyrrhenus for their leader. The lot
was cast, and they who had to emigrate went down to Smyrna, and built
themselves ships, in which, after they had put on board all needful
stores, they sailed away in search of new homes and better sustenance.
After sailing past many countries they came to Umbria, where they
built cities for themselves, and fixed their residence. Their former
name of Lydians they laid aside, and called themselves after the name
of the king's son, who led the colony, Tyrrhenians.
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