Gyges, The sonne of Dascylus, one of the seruauntes of Candaules, king of Lydia (as Herodotus writeth) or his companion (as Trogus rehearseth) was also king of Lydia, by this meanes: Candaules had a wife, whom for the inordinate loue he bare to hir, he supposed to be the fayrest woman liuing. On a time he praysed his wiues beautie vnto Gyges adding therto, that he might the better beleeue him, he wold cause him to see hir naked. But Gyges resused, disswading as much as he could Candaules from that follie, with right wife exhortations. But Candaules obstinatelie persisting in his foolishe fantasie, did set Gyges in a secrete place, where he behelde his wife naked, going to bed. And as Gyges departed the Ladie behelde him. And finallie the matter disclosed vnto hir by hir husband, she intended to be reuenged. For in that countrey it was an intollerable reproche to a man or a woman to be seene naked. Wherfore calling vnto hir such of hir seruauntes, as she speciallie trusted, she sente for Gyges: who being come, she proposed vnto him this election, either he himselfe to be slaine, or else to promise to slea Cãdaules, and to take hir to his wife, and the realme with hir: whiche he abhorring, and a good while resisting wyth sundrie perswasions, at the last hee chose rather than to dye himselfe, to siea Candaules as he did lye in his bed, by the meanes of the Queene, whom he tooke to his wife, & was king of Lydia. Plato libro. 2. de iusto, telleth that Gyges had a ring, of such vertue, that when the broder part thereof was turned to the palme of his hand, he was seene of no mã but he might see all things: and when he turned the ring on the contracie part, he was himselfe seene openlie: by means whereof he slue Candaules, and committed adultery wyth his wife. There was also another Gyges, a great gyaunte, and brother of Briareus.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
Gges, is or ae, m., = *gu/ghs. I.A king of Lydia, famous for the possession of a ring with which he could render himself invisible, Cic. Off. 3, 19, 78; Just. 1, 7, 17 sq. —B. Deriv. Ggaeus, a, um, adj., in poet. transf., of or belonging to Lydia, Lydian: Lydia Gygaeo tincta puella lacu, a lake near Sardes (the Homer. li/mnh *gugai/h), Prop. 3, 11 (4, 10), 18; cf. Plin. 5, 29, 30, 110.—II.A Trojan, slain by Turnus, Verg. A. 9, 762.—III.A beautiful youth, Hor. C. 2, 5, 20; 3, 7, 5 (but as a name of the giant, Gyas is the correct read.; v. that art.).