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[1]
The Alcmeonidae had been men of renown at Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens even in the old days, and from the time of Alcmeon 1 and then Megacles their renown increased.
The Alcmeonidae had been men of renown at Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens even in the old days, and from the time of Alcmeon 1 and then Megacles their renown increased.
[2] When the
Lydians from
Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis came from
Croesus to the
Delphic oracle,
Alcmeon son of
Megacles worked with them and zealously aided them; when
Croesus heard from the
Lydians who visited the oracle of
Alcmeon's benefits to him, he summoned
Alcmeon to
Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, and there made him a gift of as much gold as he could carry away at one time on his person.
[3] Considering the nature of the gift,
Alcmeon planned and employed this device: he donned a wide tunic, leaving a deep fold in it, and put on the most spacious boots that he could find, then went into the treasury to which they led him.
[4] Falling upon a heap of gold-dust, first he packed next to his legs as much gold as his boots would contain; then he filled all the fold of his tunic with gold and strewed the dust among the hair of his head, and took more of it into his mouth; when he came out of the treasury, hardly dragging the weight of his boots, he was like anything rather than a human being, with his mouth crammed full and all his body swollen.
[5]
Croesus burst out laughing at the sight and gave him all the gold he already had and that much more again. Thus the family grew very rich;
Alcmeon came to keep four-horse chariots and won with them at
Olympia [21.6333,37.65] (Perseus)Olympia.
Histories. Herodotus. ed. A.D. Godley. Cambridge. 1920-1925.
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