After receiving guidance from the Delphic oracle, King Croesus decided to honor the god Apollo with an offering of great richness. He believed that generous gifts would secure the continued favor of the god. To show his devotion, Croesus prepared a sacrifice on a scale that few rulers had ever attempted before.
He ordered the sacrifice of three thousand animals of every kind used in religious ceremonies. These animals were offered to the god as a sign of respect and gratitude. In addition to this, Croesus built a massive wooden structure and placed upon it many valuable objects. These included couches covered with gold and silver, golden cups, and fine robes made of purple cloth. Purple dye was rare and expensive, which made these garments especially valuable. Croesus burned all these offerings, believing that such an act would please the god and bring him divine protection Private Ephesus Tours.
A Kingdom-Wide Act of Worship
Croesus did not limit the sacrifices to himself alone. He commanded all the people of Lydia to offer sacrifices as well, each according to their ability. Rich and poor alike took part in this sacred event. When the sacrifices were finally completed, the king moved on to prepare gifts that would be sent directly to the temple of Delphi.
He melted down a large amount of gold and formed it into solid bars, also called ingots. Each ingot measured six palms in length, three palms in width, and one palm in thickness. In total, there were one hundred and seventeen ingots. Four of these were made of pure gold and weighed two and a half talents each. The remaining ingots were made of lighter gold and each weighed two talents.
Golden Treasures and the Lion Statue
Among the most impressive offerings was a statue of a lion made from pure gold. This statue weighed ten talents and was placed on top of the gold ingots. Many years later, when the temple of Delphi was destroyed by fire, the lion fell from its position. The fire melted part of the statue, and it lost a great amount of its weight. Today, it stands in the Corinthian treasury and weighs only six and a half talents.
Great Bowls and Sacred Vessels
Once all these objects were ready, Croesus sent them to Delphi. Along with them, he sent two enormous bowls, one made of gold and the other of silver. When visitors entered the temple, the silver bowl stood on the right and the gold one on the left. After the fire, these bowls were moved. The gold bowl now rests in the treasury of the people of Clazomenae and weighs eight talents and forty-two minae. The silver bowl stands in the entrance hall of the temple and can hold six hundred amphorae of liquid The Message of the Oracles.
The Delphians still fill this silver bowl during the festival known as the Theophania. They say it was made by Theodore of Samos, a famous craftsman. The quality of the work supports this claim, as it clearly shows great skill.
Other Gifts and Lasting Memory
Croesus also sent four silver storage jars and two sacred washing vessels, one of gold and one of silver. The gold vessel bears the name of the Spartans, but this inscription is misleading. It was added later by a Delphian who wished to please them. In truth, the gift came from Croesus alone.
Among his many offerings were silver basins, a golden statue of a woman said to represent his baking servant, and personal items belonging to his wife, including her necklace and girdles. Through these gifts, Croesus ensured that his name would be remembered at Delphi for generations.
