King Candaules

A lavish celebration unfurls in ancient Sardis, where the city’s streets pulse with music, perfume, and the glitter of gold‑laden sands. The kingdom prepares for the marriage of King Candaules, a ruler whose lineage traces back to Heracles, and the excitement of the populace swells like the tide of the Pactolus itself. Amid the bustling agora, children, washerwomen, and slaves all rush to finish their chores, eager to witness the grand procession that will carry the bride through a world of opulent tapestries and fragrant incense.

At the heart of the spectacle stands Nyssia, the famed daughter of the satrap Megabazus, whose reputed beauty has traveled far beyond Lydia’s borders. As rumors of her flawless features mingle with the cultural tensions between Greek openness and Persian modesty, listeners are drawn into a vivid tableau of ancient customs, political intrigue, and the delicate dance of desire and duty that begins to shape the fate of a kingdom.