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There were two motives which led Croesus to attack Cappadocia:
firstly, he coveted the land, which he wished to add to his own
dominions; but the chief reason was that he wanted to revenge on Cyrus
the wrongs of Astyages, and was made confident by the oracle of being
able so to do: for Astyages, son of Cyaxares and king of the
Medes, who had been dethroned by Cyrus, son of Cambyses, was
Croesus' brother by marriage. This marriage had taken place under
circumstances which I will now relate. A band of Scythian nomads,
who had left their own land on occasion of some disturbance, had taken
refuge in Media. Cyaxares, son of Phraortes, and grandson of
Deioces, was at that time king of the country. Recognising them as
suppliants, he began by treating them with kindness, and coming
presently to esteem them highly, he intrusted to their care a number of
boys, whom they were to teach their language and to instruct in the use
of the bow. Time passed, and the Scythians employed themselves, day
after day, in hunting, and always brought home some game; but at last
it chanced that one day they took nothing. On their return to
Cyaxares with empty hands, that monarch, who was hot-tempered, as
he showed upon the occasion, received them very rudely and
insultingly. In consequence of this treatment, which they did not
conceive themselves to have deserved, the Scythians determined to take
one of the boys whom they had in charge, cut him in pieces, and then
dressing the flesh as they were wont to dress that of the wild animals,
serve it up to Cyaxares as game: after which they resolved to convey
themselves with all speed to Sardis, to the court of Alyattes, the
son of Sadyattes. The plan was carried out: Cyaxares and his guests
ate of the flesh prepared by the Scythians, and they themselves,
having accomplished their purpose, fled to Alyattes in the guise of suppliants.
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