The Gates of Athens: Book One in the Athenian series

Product Information

No deshonraré mi espada ni mi escudo y no abandonaré la formación. Defenderé todo lo que es sagrado y devolveré la tierra más fértil de lo que la encontré”. Athens was in Attica, about 30 stadia from the sea, on the southwest slope of Mount Lycabettus, between the small rivers Cephissus to the west, Ilissos to the south, and the Eridanos to the north, the latter of which flowed through the town. The walled city measured about 1.5km (0.93mi) in diameter, although at its peak the city had suburbs extending well beyond these walls. The Acropolis was just south of the centre of this walled area. The city was burnt by Xerxes in 480 BC, but was soon rebuilt under the administration of Themistocles, and was adorned with public buildings by Cimon and especially by Pericles, in whose time (461–429 BC) it reached its greatest splendour. Its beauty was chiefly due to its public buildings, for the private houses were mostly insignificant, and its streets badly laid out. Towards the end of the Peloponnesian War, it contained more than 10,000 houses, [11] which at a rate of 12 inhabitants to a house would give a population of 120,000, though some writers make the inhabitants as many as 180,000. Athens consisted of two distinct parts: These quibbles aside, I found Protector to be a compelling, informative read. And I especially enjoyed Iggulden’s tantalizing hint about where the series (or a future one) might end up: at one point, two Persian generals are laughing about the boastful claims made by the first King Alexander of Macedonia. “You believe the man’s prophecy was wrong, then?” one of the generals asks. “Who knows,” the other answers. “I think if his family is destined to rule all Greece, this is the wrong year … Or he is the wrong Alexander of Macedon.” For me, the political machinations are what makes The Gates of Athens, but the strength of Conn Iggulden’s writing is that you can find what you want in it – vivid battle scenes, rich depictions of daily life, plot twists and drama. This is the first in a new series and I’m already looking forward to the next book.

Xerxes, Themistocles, Xanthippus, Aristides, Pausanias … names I remember from studying ancient Greek history last century. Names that Mr Iggulden brings to life in this novel, the second in his Athenian series. While I have not yet read the first book in this series (I missed it, somehow) it is possible to read this as a standalone. The battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC. King Darius of Persia attempted to bring the city of Athens down; vowing revenge and destruction after the city’s refusal to submit to Persian rule. The battle ended - but the consequences lasted for more than a decade.

Find a Book

I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about. Te midden van de zeeslag van Salamis tegen de Perzen ziet het er niet goed uit voor de Grieken. Athene is in vlammen opgegaan en de inwoners schuilen op het eiland Salamis. Het is aan Themistocles om iets uit zijn mouw te toveren. Om de Perzen uit heel Griekenland te verdrijven zullen Themistocles, Aristides en Xantippus de hulp van Sparta moeten inroepen en daar ontbreekt leiding na de dood van Leonidas. The city [ edit ] Overview [ edit ] Map of ancient Athens showing the Acropolis in middle, the Agora to the northwest, and the city walls. Cynosarges, east of the city, across the Ilissos, reached from the Diomea gate, a gymnasium sacred to Heracles, where the Cynic Antisthenes taught. The lower city was built in the plain around the Acropolis, but this plain also contained several hills, especially in the southwest part. On the west side the walls embraced the Hill of the Nymphs and the Pnyx, and to the southeast they ran along beside the Ilissos.

A magnificent historical sequence of events told through the mind of one of the greatest historical writers out there, and this numbers amongst his best works.

The port city of Piraeus, also surrounded with walls by Themistocles and connected to the city with the Long Walls, built under Conon and Pericles. Samons II, Loren (2007). The Cambridge companion to the Age of Pericles. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521003896. In addition the Long Walls consisted of two parallel walls leading to Piraeus, 40 stadia long (4.5 miles, 7km), running parallel to each other, with a narrow passage between them and, furthermore, a wall to Phalerum on the east, 35 stadia long (4 miles, 6.5km). There were therefore three long walls in all; but the name Long Walls seems to have been confined to the two leading to the Piraeus, while the one leading to Phalerum was called the Phalerian Wall. The entire circuit of the walls was 174.5 stadia (nearly 22 miles, 35km), of which 43 stadia (5.5 miles, 9km) belonged to the city, 75 stadia (9.5 miles, 15km) to the long walls, and 56.5 stadia (7 miles, 11km) to Piraeus, Munichia, and Phalerum. Dit tweede deel over de Grieks-Perzische oorlogen beviel me veel meer dan het eerste. Misschien omdat ik ondertussen al meer bekend was met de personages. Het las allemaal wat vlotter en ik vond dit zeker een boeiend boek. I was sent an advance copy of this novel by the publishers, Penguin/Random House and I was very happy to accept it as Iggulden was one of the writers who got me into this historical fiction stuff with his Emperor series. I enjoyed those immensely but must admit I’ve not read anything else by him as the periods he was covering didn’t really interest me. That is, until now. Protector is actually book two in his Athenian series and I really would have liked to start with the first, The Gates of Athens, but I simply don’t have time to read much fiction these days.

The key events this books covers are the battles of Marathon and Thermopylae, but the majority of the book is given over to events in between where the politics and life of Athens seem like the author's main interest.

Customer reviews

Es mi primer acercamiento con la pluma del autor, y puedo decir, que me ha gustado. Es sencilla y solo profundiza en los aspectos que son más importantes de los personajes principales de ambos bandos, los Persas y los Atenienses. El narrador omnisciente nos hace un retrato bien perfilado de la ciudad de Atenas, sus costumbres como civilización y sus políticas de gobierno. The Gates of Athens" by Conn Iggulden is a great retelling of the Greek conflict with the Persian Emprire. Starting with Darius' attempt in 490 BC at Marathon, the story then delves into the politics of Athens and Greece in general. The battle of Plataeae is the ‘piece the resistance’ of the novel. My favourite character is Aristides and I loved to experience the battle from his perspective. I also enjoyed the ending, it offers already some closure. There is a new generation coming up for the next book(s). The characterization of Pericles is promising.

The city was surrounded by defensive walls from the Bronze Age and they were rebuilt and extended over the centuries. This is the second novel in the Athenian series of Conn Iggulden, telling the tale of the Persians Wars and the Peloponnesian War. I did enjoy ‘the gates of Athens‘ that ends with the fantastic first part of the battle of Salamis. Protector continues the story of this battle and I was immediately drawn into the action.

This is a period of history that I have always been interested in and fascinated by. It is a tale that has heroic acts, almost inconceivable victories and a story that allows for the exploration Hellenic culture. The Gates of Athens delivers on all accounts, stripping away the romanticism of battle, whilst still sharing the bravery and courage of individuals and showing how an idea or concept of something larger than yourself can motivate people to incredible acts. In the new epic historical novel by New York Times bestselling author Conn Iggulden, in ancient Greece an army of slaves gathers on the plains of Marathon.