Lydia

Lydia was a region between Mysia and Caria, in Asia Minor. The region was named after Lydus, son of Attis.

Lydia was the kingdom where Queen Omphale ruled, after the death of her husband Tmolus, who was king of Lydia. Omphale was a daughter of Iardanos. Heracles had to serve Omphale as a slave for three years, to atone for the murder of Iphitus.

During his servitude, Heracles aided Omphale in ridding her of enemies and monsters. The Cercopes were dwarfish, ape-like or monkey-like men who delighted in knavery. According to Apollodorus, they were captured and killed by Heracles, but according to the short fragmented poem The Cercopes, either they escaped from Heracles or the hero released them, after capturing them in Thessaly. Zeus turned them into stones later, because they tried to deceive the god.

The principal city in Lydia was Sardis.