Book 1
93.1
There are not many marvellous things in Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia to record, in comparison with other countries, except the gold dust that comes down from Tmolus.
93.2
But there is one building to be seen there which is much the greatest of all, except those of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt and Babylon [44.4,32.55] (deserted settlement), Babil, Iraq, Asia Babylon . In Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia is the tomb of Alyattes, the father of Croesus, the base of which is made of great stones and the rest of it of mounded earth. It was built by the men of the market and the craftsmen and the prostitutes.
93.3
There survived until my time five corner-stones set on the top of the tomb, and in these was cut the record of the work done by each group: and measurement showed that the prostitutes' share of the work was the greatest.
93.4
All the daughters of the common people of Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia ply the trade of prostitutes, to collect dowries, until they can get themselves husbands; and they themselves offer themselves in marriage.
93.5
Now this tomb has a circumference of thirteen hundred and ninety yards, and its breadth is above four hundred and forty yards; and there is a great lake hard by the tomb, which, the Lydians say, is fed by ever-flowing springs; it is called the Gygaean lake. Such then is this tomb.
94.1
The customs of the Lydians are like those of the Greeks, except that they make prostitutes of their female children. They were the first men whom we know who coined and used gold and silver currency; and they were the first to sell by retail.
94.2
And, according to what they themselves say, the games now in use among them and the Greeks were invented by the Lydians: these, they say, were invented among them at the time when they colonized Etruria (region (general)), Italy, EuropeTyrrhenia. This is their story:
