Gyges of Lydia
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Gyges was the founder of the Mermnad dynasty of Lydian kings and the first known king of the Lydian kingdom to have attempted to transform it into a powerful empire. Gyges reigned for 38 years accordi
A rare depiction of the legend of Gyges finding the magic ring, Ferrara, 16th century
Gyges tablet, British Museum
Candaules, King of Lydia, Shews his Wife by Stealth to Gyges, One of his Ministers, as She Goes to Bed by William Etty. This image illustrates Herodotus's version of the tale of Gyges. As told by Herodotus, Gyges watched the naked queen secretly, but was seen by her as he was sneaking out of concealment. An earlier artistic treatment of the same subject, by Dosso Dossi, is now in the Galleria Borghese .
Midas
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Midas was a king of Phrygia with whom many myths became associated, as well as two later members of the Phrygian royal house.
King Midas on a red-figure stamnos from Chiusi around 440 BC, British Museum
The Midas Monument, a Phrygian rock-cut tomb dedicated to Midas (700 BCE)
In the Nathaniel Hawthorne version of the Midas myth, Midas's daughter turns to a golden statue when he touches her (illustration by Walter Crane for the 1893 edition).
The "Tomb of Midas" in Gordion, dated 740 BCE