Atys

One of the two sons of the Lydian king, Kroesus (Croesus).

Atys’ other brother was a deaf mute and therefore Kroesus assumed that Atys would follow him as the next king of Lydia; when Atys was a young man, Kroesus had a dream in which Atys was killed by an iron spear; Kroesus sought to protect Atys and had all spears removed from his home and refused to allow Atys to participate in any military actions.

The Mysians, who lived to the north of Lydia, were plagued by a fierce boar and asked Kroesus to send Atys and other brave men to help them drive the boar from their country; at first, Kroesus refused to allow Atys to go on the hunt because of the ill-omened dream but Atys convinced his father that he was in no danger from the boar, or any other beast, because he was not fated to die by tooth or claw but by an iron spear; Kroesus saw the logic of Atys’ argument and agreed that he should go on the hunt to prove his manhood and gain the respect of his people as a man of strength and skill.

At this same time, a supplicant named Adrastus came to Lydia and begged Kroesus for sanctuary because he had accidentally killed his brother and was driven from his home by his father; Kroesus welcomed Adrastus into his home and absolved him of his blood-guilt.

As repayment for his hospitality, Kroesus ordered Adrastus to accompany Atys on the hunt as serve as Atys’ guardian and protector; during the course of the hunt, Adrastus cast his spear at the boar and accidentally killed Atys; when he faced Kroesus and admitted his guilt, Kroesus forgave him and said that the death of his son was not the work of any man but the will of the Immortals.

Adrastus could not live with his shame and killed himself; Kroesus was left with no heir to his ever expanding kingdom.

• Histories, book 1, chapters 34-45