L’immagine di Creso nella tradizione post-classica.In margine al “silenzio” di Xanto

This paper examines the ancient Greek tradition about Croesus, the last Lydian king; starting from the artistical (Myson), poetical (Bacchylides) and historical (Herodotus) portraits in the V century BC, it deals with the influence of Herodotus' account on the following tradition, until Byzantine times. The study, pointing at the paradigmatic value of Croesus relationship with the Greek world, aims at clarify why his story was so appalling even for Christian authors and why the more "oriental" and epicoric evidence about him are so scanty.