The Myth of Sparta

Many have heard of the heroic stand of the three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae but what happened to the Spartans after that battle? The Myth of Sparta begins with the death of Leonidas, the Lion of Sparta, and the famous three hundred Spartans, at the battle of Thermopylae and culminates in a dramatic retelling of the battle of Sphacteria, a battle which dramatically deals with the question of Spartan invincibility. It tells the story of the relations between the Spartans and the Athenians who turned from being the closest of allies into implacable enemies. It follows the lives of many of the Spartans during this period, meeting its Kings and Regents, as well as lesser known characters such as Styphon, a young Spartan, whose life we follow through the mysteries of the brutal training at the Agoge, the Spartan school for warriors. The novel describes the machinations of the Athenian politicians such as Pericles and Cleon who seek to control Athens as near dictators, forcing their will upon the people, acting through the power and guise of a Democratic society. The author follows the lives of lesser known Athenians, such as Demosthenes, who becomes a General and changes forever the strategy that the Athenians follow in their confrontations with Sparta. The book explores the life of the Helots, Greek citizens who were long ago subjugated by the Spartans and turned into slaves. In particular, we meet Kallistos, who waits until a great Earthquake brings Sparta to her knees before he strikes violently to challenge the serfdom he detests so much. The Myth of Sparta covers all of this and more, breathing life into historical characters and describing in dramatic detail, a period of history long forgotten.

Author: John Malcolm Burton
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 02/03/2013
Pages: 322
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.82lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.67d
ISBN: 9781482330632

About the Author
John Burton is an English Barrister practising mainly in criminal law. He has always had an interest in History, particularly Ancient History and although he has never studied the subject academically, he has read a considerable number of relevant books and travelled widely visiting many Ancient sites. He decided to write a series of books on the Spartans because of an interest in their history and the fact that it is shrouded in mystery.

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