GYGES, founder of the third or Mermnad dynasty of Lydian kings, reigned 687-652 B.C. according to H. Gelzer, 69o-657 B.C. according to H. Winckler. As a youth, he was sent by the Lydian king Sadyattes to fetch Tudo, the daughter of Arnossus of Mysia, whom the Lydian king wished to make his queen. On the way Gyges fell in love with Tudo, and to escape punishment, as sassinated Sadyattes and seized the throne. The civil war which ensued was finally ended by an appeal to the oracle of Delphi and the confirmation of the right of Gyges to the crown by the Delphian god. Further to secure his title he married Tudo. Under him the Troad was conquered, Colophon captured from the Greeks, Smyrna besieged and alliances entered into with Ephesus and Miletus. The Cimmerii, who had ravaged Asia Minor, were beaten back, and an embassy was sent to Assur bani-pal at Nineveh (c. 66o B.C.) in the hope of obtaining his help against the barbarians. The Assyrians, however, were other wise engaged, and Gyges turned to Egypt, sending troops to assist Psammetichus in shaking off the Assyrian yoke (654 B.c.). A few years later he fell in battle against the Cimmerii, and was succeeded by his son Ardys.
See C. Muller, Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum, iii.; R. Schubert, Geschichte der Konige von Lydien (1884) ; M. G. Radet, La Lydie et le monde grec au temps de Mermnades (1892-93) ; H. Gelzer, "Das Zeitalter des Gyges" (Rhein. Mus., 1875) ; H. Winckler, Altorientalische Forschungen, i. (1893).