The Croesus’ Campaign Against Ephesos. Historical & Archaeological considerations

Herodotus, in the Lydian logos of his first Book, more particularly in the context of the History about Croesus, relates that the Lydian king began his reign with a series of military campaigns against the Greek cities of Asia Minor. Ephesos was the first one to suffer and, according to the historian, it was during this campaign that the inhabitants of Ephesos have linked the city-walls to the Artemision, in order to dedicate the city to the goddess.
In my presentation, I will reconsider the archaeological excavations of the Artemision and the city of Ephesos by the British and the Austrians. Uncovered fragments of Greek and Lydian inscriptions indicate that Croesus made offerings to the sanctuary. As for the Lydian inscription, I can propose a new reading in light of the works dealing with the Lydian kings’ onomastic.
I will also reconsider the results of excavations searching for the Archaic City (not yet surely localised), for which no defensive wall has ever been uncovered so far. Thus, the comments of Herodotus and even Polyaenus cannot find any archaeological confirmation. Moreover, it appears that the episode of the rope linking the Artemision to the City of Ephesos has been an imagined story inserted by Herodotus in his Histories (then repeated by Polyaenus). Eventually, it seems that Croesus never besieged the city, with Ephesos surrendering to the Lydian king without any conflict.