Kandaules : 3-näytöksinen näytelmä

A sun‑drenched courtyard of the Temple of Fortune frames the opening of this ancient drama, where priests chant pleas to the goddess Tyyke and a solemn sacrifice is offered to the Sun‑god Sanson. The audience meets a vivid cast: the weary messenger Arkelaos, the ailing priestess Mandane begging for divine aid, and the enigmatic priest Farnakes, who balances ritual duty with hidden counsel. Their voices echo against marble pillars and a distant sapphire sea, hinting at an imminent threat that looms over the Lyydian kingdom.

Soon the royal procession arrives, led by King Kandaules, his trusted guard Trasyllos, and the fierce war‑leader Gyges. Tensions rise as the king’s presence collides with the temple’s sacred rites, and whispers of a hostile force advancing toward the city stir unease among the gathered priests and servants. The stage is set for a clash of loyalty, ambition, and the gods’ fickle favor—an invitation to listen as ancient power struggles unfold.