Croesus of Lydia

Do you know the name Croesus? It's connected with many other famous names, including Aesop, Solon, Midas, Thales, and Cyrus. King Croesus encouraged trade and mining, and his resultant wealth was legendary -- as was much of his life.

Below are ten points to be familiar with about Croesus.
1. Croesus gave the fable-writer Aesop a court appointment.
2. He minted the first gold and silver coins.
3. He is the subject of the simile "rich as Croesus"
4. He is the man to whom Solon the law-giver said, "count no man happy until his death."
5. Croesus is said to have derived his wealth from King Midas' (the man with the golden touch) gold deposits in the river Pactolus.
6. According to Herodotus, Croesus was the first foreigner to come in contact with the Greeks.
7. He conquered and received tribute from the Ionian Greeks.
8. He tragically misinterpreted the oracle that told him that if he crossed a certain river he would destroy a kingdom.
9. He was defeated by King Cyrus.
10. He was responsible for the loss of Lydia to Persia which led to conflict between the Ionian Greek cities and Persia.