英语词汇croesus的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

Croesus. When we say, as the ancient Greeks did, that a man is as rich as Croesus, we are invoking the name of the last king of Lydia (560–546 b.c.). As a result of his conquests and trade, King Croesus was regarded by the Greeks as the wealthiest man on earth, his riches proverbial even at that time. Croesus probably minted the first gold and silver coins. Although he had subjugated the Ionian cities of Asia Minor, he was friendly to the Greeks, making spectacular offerings to their oracles. According to a legendary story told by Herodotus, the Athenian Solon once advised Croesus that no man could be deemed hap- py, despite his riches, until he finished his life happily. Later, after Croesus had been defeated by Cyrus the Great and con- demned to be burned alive, he supposedly cried out Solon’s name three times from the pyre. Cyrus, moved by his explana- tion and perhaps reflecting on his own fate, is said to have spared his captive’s life and they became great friends. The tale, however, is chronologically impossible and only one of a number of legends concerning this very real midas.

词汇	croesus
词源	Croesus. When we say, as the ancient Greeks did, that a man is as rich as Croesus, we are invoking the name of the last king of Lydia (560–546 b.c.). As a result of his conquests and trade, King Croesus was regarded by the Greeks as the wealthiest man on earth, his riches proverbial even at that time. Croesus probably minted the first gold and silver coins. Although he had subjugated the Ionian cities of Asia Minor, he was friendly to the Greeks, making spectacular offerings to their oracles. According to a legendary story told by Herodotus, the Athenian Solon once advised Croesus that no man could be deemed hap- py, despite his riches, until he finished his life happily. Later, after Croesus had been defeated by Cyrus the Great and con- demned to be burned alive, he supposedly cried out Solon’s name three times from the pyre. Cyrus, moved by his explana- tion and perhaps reflecting on his own fate, is said to have spared his captive’s life and they became great friends. The tale, however, is chronologically impossible and only one of a number of legends concerning this very real midas.
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