These buildings formed the citadel, round the threefold walls of which, many centuries before, King meles had carried a lion in order to render them impregnable.
"The Complete Historical Romances of Georg Ebers"
Georg Ebers
To this part of the wall alone meles also, who formerly was king of Sardis, did not carry round the lion which his concubine bore to him, the Telmessians having given decision that if the lion should be carried round the wall, Sardis should be safe from capture: and meles having carried it round the rest of the wall, that is to say those parts of the citadel where the fortress was open to attack, passed over this part as being unassailable and precipitous: now this is a part of the city which is turned towards Tmolos.
"The History Of Herodotus Volume 1(of 2)"
Herodotus
To the north flowed the noble stream of Hebrus, whilst high above the wealthy town, the busy agora, the giant temple of Lydian Cybele, rose the citadel of meles, the palace fortress of the kings and the satraps.
"A Victor of Salamis"
William Stearns Davis
