Solon (c. 640–558 B.C.), Greek statesman, poet.
In answer to the fabulously wealthy Croesus, who asked him who was the happiest man Solon had encountered on his travels—expecting Solon to name Croesus himself. Croesus dismissed Solon, only to remember his words when sentenced to death following his disastrous invasion of Persia (though the sentence was rescinded when the Persian king, Cyrus, heard the tale). The story is related by Herodotus in his Histories, bk. 1, though has no historical basis: Solon died before he could have met Croesus.
