The war between the Lydians and the Milesians continued for eleven long years. During this time, the Milesians suffered greatly. Two especially severe attacks were carried out against them. One took place in their own land, in the district called Limeneium. The other happened in the wide and fertile plain of the Maeander River. These attacks caused heavy damage to Milesian agriculture and weakened their economy.
This long conflict did not belong to a single king’s reign. For the first six years, the war was led by Sadyattes, the son of Ardys, who had originally started the fighting. Sadyattes personally organized many of the raids into Milesian territory. After his death, the war did not end. Instead, it passed to his son Alyattes, who ruled during the final five years of the conflict. Alyattes continued the war with great determination and did not relax his efforts Daily Sofia Tours.
Lack of Support for the Milesians
Throughout the entire war, the Milesians received almost no help from their Ionian neighbors. None of the Ionian cities came to their aid, with one important exception. The people of Chios supported Miletus by sending troops.
This support was not given freely. It was a repayment for an earlier favor. In the past, the Milesians had fought bravely alongside the Chians during a war against the city of Erythrae. Remembering this old alliance, Chios chose to honor its obligation. Apart from this single ally, Miletus stood alone against the powerful Lydian kingdom.
The Burning of the Temple at Assesus
In the twelfth year of the war, a serious and unexpected event changed everything. As usual, the Lydian soldiers set fire to the harvested fields to destroy the crops. This time, however, a strong wind suddenly rose. The flames were carried toward the Temple of Minerva Assesia, located near Assesus in Milesian territory The Rise of Gyges and the Lydian Kingdom.
The fire quickly spread, and the temple was completely burnt to the ground. At first, no one paid much attention to this disaster. The army returned to Sardis, believing the campaign had ended as usual.
Soon after returning home, King Alyattes fell seriously ill. His sickness lasted for a long time, and no cure seemed to help him. Either following the advice of friends or guided by his own thoughts, Alyattes decided to seek divine help.
The Oracle of Delphi Speaks
Alyattes sent messengers to Delphi, the most famous oracle in the Greek world. He asked the god for guidance and wished to know the cause of his illness. However, when the messengers arrived, the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo, refused to give an answer.
She declared that the god would remain silent until the Temple of Minerva, destroyed by the Lydians at Assesus, was rebuilt. Only after this act of repair and respect would the god respond to the king’s question.
This part of the story comes from the Delphians themselves, who preserved the official version of events.
News Reaches Periander and Thrasybulus
The story does not end there. According to the Milesians, the message from Delphi soon reached Periander, the son of Cypselus, who ruled Corinth. Periander was a close friend of Thrasybulus, the ruler of Miletus at that time.
As soon as Periander heard the oracle’s words, he acted quickly. He sent a messenger to Thrasybulus, warning him of what the god had declared. With this knowledge, Thrasybulus could better plan his actions and respond wisely to the changing situation.
This episode shows how war, religion, and politics were closely connected in the ancient world. A single act of destruction led to illness, divine warning, and secret communication between rulers. The long war between Lydia and Miletus was shaped not only by armies, but also by belief in the power of the gods and the wisdom of prophecy.
