The Gates of Athens. Conn Iggulden

“The Gates of Athens” is a historical novel by the famous modern British writer Conn Iggulden. The focus of the image is two episodes from the Greco-Persian Wars: the first is the Battle of Marathon, in which the freedom-loving Athenians, together with the Plataeans, won a victory, defeating the army of the Persian king Darius; the second is the heroic Battle of Thermopylae, in which the Spartans held back the onslaught of the army of Xerxes, the son of Darius, and his allies on Athens. In both battles, the Greeks faced a stronger and much more numerous enemy. The final episode of the novel is the eve of the Battle of Salamis.

On the pages of the book, the author skillfully brings the ancient world to life, inviting the reader to the times of heroic battles, political intrigues, betrayal and loyalty, love and devotion. The scale of the events of the past described is simply breathtaking. The novel depicts the era itself in an incredibly interesting way, including the life and customs of the Greeks, their customs and relationships, and Athenian democracy, which ultimately gave rise to the democratic system in many countries of the civilized world.