"490 BC. King Darius of Persia has brought about a golden age, a world of prosperity and peace. He would make the Greeks part of that greater nation, if they would just lay down their spears and shields - and call him king. The people of Athens have known tyrants before. Instead of kings, they have the Assembly, where each man can vote and be heard. Though a vast empire shakes the earth, they will not give up what they have won. When the enemy comes, Athenians march to a place known as Marathon. Those present will set the path for all Greece: Aeschylus the playwright, Themistocles the self-made man, Aristides the Just - and Xanthippus, father to Pericles. In time, another son of Persia will decide their fates. He will bring a great host, a leviathan of land and sea. Yet as waves crash against the shore at Thermopylae, a small force may yet choose to stand against him - and refuse to give away."--Publisher description.
De Atheners Reeks
Deze historische saga neemt u mee naar het turbulente tijdperk van het oude Griekenland, een smeltkroes waarin de fundamenten van de westerse beschaving werden gelegd. Volg de lotsbestemmingen van de dappere Atheners terwijl ze de overweldigende macht van Perzië trotseren en hun pas verworven vrijheid verdedigen. Ervaar de cruciale veldslagen en ingewikkelde politieke manoeuvres van dichtbij, die het lot van de gehele Hellenistische wereld bepaalden. Het is een episch verhaal over moed, democratie en de onoverwinnelijke geest tegenover keizerlijke ambitie.
Aanbevolen leesvolgorde
Protector
- 400bladzijden
- 14 uur lezen
The latest epic in this bestselling author’s Athenian series of novels takes the reader on a vivid adventure where Themistocles will risk everything—his honor, his friendships, even his life—to protect his country.The Battle of Salamis: Persian King Xerxes stands over the smoking ruins of Athens, an army of slaves at his back. Come to destroy, once and for all, everything that the city stands for, he stares pitilessly at the hopelessly outnumbered Greeks. Veteran soldier Themistocles cannot push the Persians back by force on land, and so he so does so by stealth, at sea. Over three long days, the greatest naval battle of the ancient world will unfold, a bloody war between the democracy of Athens and the tyranny of Persia. The Battle of Plataea: Less than a year later, the Persian return to reconquer the Greeks. Tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides ready themselves for war. For the Spartans, Plataea is chance to avenge their defeat at Thermopylae. For the people of Athens, threatened on all sides, nothing less than the survival of democracy is at stake. And once again Themistocles, the hero of Salamis, will risk everything—his honor, his friendships, even his life—to protect his country.