Historical

The Gates of Athens

The Gates of Athens

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-30 11:51:50
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Conn Iggulden
  • ISBN：1405937351
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Summary

490 B。C。

Two great empires are about to go to war 。 。 。

The momentous struggle between Athens and Sparta as rival powers and political systems will last for twenty-seven years （431 to 404 BC）。

It will end in the fall of a dynasty。

Filled with cunning political scheming and astonishing military prowess， invasions and treacheries， plagues and slaughters， passion and power， Conn Iggulden brings to life one of the most thrilling chapters of the ancient world。

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Reviews

Sue Reading ，

Absolutely fantastic！ Gripped from the very beginning and was heart sore when I finished。 Bring on the next one。 Conn Iggulden is immense， as always！

Mark Harrison ，

Not sure anyone can write these historical battles like Iggulden。 His new series is about war between Persia and the Greeks and their Spartan allies。 Brilliant battles at Marathon and Thermopylae and a big sea battles on the side。 Usual great character and great to read about a time I knew very little about。 Exceptional。

Deb Poillon ，

Can't wait for the next book in the series。 Another excellent book by Mr。 Iggulden。 Can't wait for the next book in the series。 Another excellent book by Mr。 Iggulden。 。。。more

Centurion Dave ，

A stunning read。 During my many years of reading historical fiction， I can honestly say that this is one of the best I have read。 Conn is a genius of the genre。A must read for people into the Greek ancient world。

Walter ，

Part one of the Athenian， but we should call it part one of the Greco-Persian Wars。 The author takes us to Athens just before the Battle in Marathon， 490BCE， and we follow a timeline till the Battle at Thermopylae， 480BCE。 Using historical facts and people， Conn paints a lively image of the events， filling in the gaps with what possibly could have happened。 You know it's brilliantly written when the story is a movie playing in your head。 Part one of the Athenian， but we should call it part one of the Greco-Persian Wars。 The author takes us to Athens just before the Battle in Marathon， 490BCE， and we follow a timeline till the Battle at Thermopylae， 480BCE。 Using historical facts and people， Conn paints a lively image of the events， filling in the gaps with what possibly could have happened。 You know it's brilliantly written when the story is a movie playing in your head。 。。。more

Greg Girard ，

Few can bring history to life the way Conn Iggulden does！This is a remarkable story of devotion and sacrifice in desperate times！ Freedom is never free！

Nicolaas Bergman ，

Conn Iggulden is a great writer of history fiction I have read his Ceazer and Kahns series and if this is as same as his previous series then he's got a winner again， a Person get so involved in his writings and before you know it you are finished with the book， Cant wait for the next book in the series so come on Conn finish writing cause Im eager to read。 Conn Iggulden is a great writer of history fiction I have read his Ceazer and Kahns series and if this is as same as his previous series then he's got a winner again， a Person get so involved in his writings and before you know it you are finished with the book， Cant wait for the next book in the series so come on Conn finish writing cause Im eager to read。 。。。more

Alan Porter ，

A great start to the new series。。。7/10

Terry Simpson ，

A very well written accountMost historical novels from the Classic period feature build up story lines， defining and designing characters that sometimes don't fit the story。 Not so here， as we start with one of the most important battles between Greeks and Persia and the story takes on a more accurate feel about it。 A nice touch and this sets the pace and authority of the book。 A very well written accountMost historical novels from the Classic period feature build up story lines， defining and designing characters that sometimes don't fit the story。 Not so here， as we start with one of the most important battles between Greeks and Persia and the story takes on a more accurate feel about it。 A nice touch and this sets the pace and authority of the book。 。。。more

Piper Winchester ，

Full of adventure

Linda ，

Good ReadThis book starts in 490 B。 C。 in Athens， Greece， after the battle of Marathon。 This is the second of three attempts the Persians made to invade Greece。 The author is a master at giving real characters and real events a life that is not told in straight history。 The Persians， under King Xerxes， came at Greece by land and sea with a far superior navy and army。 The Greeks combined their city-states and made a proud showing， but it was not enough。 Spartan King Leonidas held the Persians on Good ReadThis book starts in 490 B。 C。 in Athens， Greece， after the battle of Marathon。 This is the second of three attempts the Persians made to invade Greece。 The author is a master at giving real characters and real events a life that is not told in straight history。 The Persians， under King Xerxes， came at Greece by land and sea with a far superior navy and army。 The Greeks combined their city-states and made a proud showing， but it was not enough。 Spartan King Leonidas held the Persians on land at Thermopolae to the death。 Xanthippus and Themistocles waged a bitter water battle on the Persians。 At the book's end， Persians were burning Athens， but many of the citizens were rescued。 The author wrote about the Assembly and how laws came from the people。 It was a new kind of governing later called democracy。 The first chapter was slow reading。 Thereafter， the author held my interests and my emotions。 His battle scenes were very much to my liking。 I had trouble pronouncing Greek names。 That gave new meaning to 'It's Greek to me。' I suggest reading the Historical Note before starting the read。 In that note， the author promised in a later book more on the fine subjects of this book。 I found it hard to review this book because there was so much material。 Please excuse me for any misstatements that I may have made。In the land battle at Thermopolae， the thrusting spears caused a shadow on the sun。 Lately， I have heard that a wealthy philanthropist wants to tame global warming by shadowing the sun。 （At least I think that is what I heard。） I thought the gentleman would have better luck at lassoing tornados than shadowing the sun until I read this book。 Give that man a quiver of arrows and a bag of spears！ LolThank you， Mr。 Iggulden， for a good read。 。。。more

Dennis Steussy ，

Conn Iggulden shares with us not only the story of the battle between the Greeks and the Persians and their King Darius at Marathon， but he takes from that time to the second invasion of Greece by the Persians by King Xerxes。 We get to understand how the Greek state of Sparta figures into the first and second invasions and learn the reason the 300 are killed at Thermopylae。 Besides all the land battles and the battles at sea， I learned a great deal more about how democracy was started by the Gre Conn Iggulden shares with us not only the story of the battle between the Greeks and the Persians and their King Darius at Marathon， but he takes from that time to the second invasion of Greece by the Persians by King Xerxes。 We get to understand how the Greek state of Sparta figures into the first and second invasions and learn the reason the 300 are killed at Thermopylae。 Besides all the land battles and the battles at sea， I learned a great deal more about how democracy was started by the Greek state of Athens。 There is this wonderful description of the process in the historical note of the book: "Men like the Athenian Cleisthenes thought up rules and tribes and laws--a system of checks and balances and responsibilities， designed so that no one could ever rise to be a tyrant again。 It is the birth of democracy， an idea of equality before the law that has endured for two and a half thousand years。" Reading how the democratic process was started and worked in this book was an added benefit I felt I received along with the great storytelling of this time and the all the other historical events。 I hope Conn continues with another book from where this one ends。 。。。more

Mikael Glamheden ，

Another great work of historical fiction by Conn Iggulden。 A true page turner。 I can’t want to read the next part of this series。

Aleksi ，

Tykkäsin ihan sikana！

Robert Marshall ，

Story gathers steamThe book starts slowly and the main character is not very sympathetic but the story gathers pace and at the end leaves the reader hungry for the next book。

Stan Jackson ，

The battle scenes were good。 The politics was heavy going。

Rebekah Miller ，

Marathon。 Thermopylae。 Artemisius。 These are all battles I remember hearing about， and it was refreshing to read about them again， this time from a "first person" perspective of two characters who would have been there。 This book delves into the political scene of the time， of what happened so that Athens and Sparta could fight together against Darius and the Persians， and of the building of Athens famous democracy。 I enjoyed reading about the style of battle， of King Leonidus' bravery， and how Marathon。 Thermopylae。 Artemisius。 These are all battles I remember hearing about， and it was refreshing to read about them again， this time from a "first person" perspective of two characters who would have been there。 This book delves into the political scene of the time， of what happened so that Athens and Sparta could fight together against Darius and the Persians， and of the building of Athens famous democracy。 I enjoyed reading about the style of battle， of King Leonidus' bravery， and how Athens came to have 20 ships ready for war。 I look forward to the next book。 。。。more

Robert ，

Iggulden is a top historical fiction writer at the top of his game。 The details of life in Athens and the function of the Agora， the Speakers stone （which still exists！ as they used it！） are superb and compelling。 the battle of Marathon happens quickly， but in retrospect it makes sense。 And Thermopylae from both the Persian and Spartian/Greek side is so well done。 Read this if you have any interest in Greek History。

Sean ，

A compelling and well written account of the Persian invasion of Greece， starting with the Battle of Marathon and ending with the Battle of Thermopylae/the sacking of Athens。 The novel feels rooted in history， with the author providing content and clarification to any changes made narratively in the note at the end。 This is as much a war novel as it is a political one， as we see how the Athenian Assembly worked and how brutally quickly public opinion could change。 One of Iggulden's best to date， A compelling and well written account of the Persian invasion of Greece， starting with the Battle of Marathon and ending with the Battle of Thermopylae/the sacking of Athens。 The novel feels rooted in history， with the author providing content and clarification to any changes made narratively in the note at the end。 This is as much a war novel as it is a political one， as we see how the Athenian Assembly worked and how brutally quickly public opinion could change。 One of Iggulden's best to date， can't wait to see where this series goes next。 。。。more

Angelique Simonsen ，

This novel was great， really brought the history of Athens and Persia alive。 Very heavy on the male characters and very military but it was fascinating

Linda ，

Well， hey。 If Ancient Greece is your jam， Conn Iggulden will take you there。 Incredibly well-written and rich with detail - I spent a fair amount of time Googling pronunciations and definitions， which is a signifier of the depth of story and the interest created; I just wanted to know more。 And that’s the mark of a pro。

Wellington ，

Conn Iggulden introduced me to the historical drama genre with series on Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan， names even every day person nowadays would recognize。 This time he tackles the story of primarily Xanthippus and Themistocles。 Their names are not as legendary。 Their battles are of some note。 Battle of Thermopylae and Artemisium。 They were memorialized with the 300 movies by Zach Snyder。 When made I loved the moves dripping with heroes， blood and honor。 This book is more about honor of heroe Conn Iggulden introduced me to the historical drama genre with series on Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan， names even every day person nowadays would recognize。 This time he tackles the story of primarily Xanthippus and Themistocles。 Their names are not as legendary。 Their battles are of some note。 Battle of Thermopylae and Artemisium。 They were memorialized with the 300 movies by Zach Snyder。 When made I loved the moves dripping with heroes， blood and honor。 This book is more about honor of heroes。 Not as much attention given to the battles 。。。 rather it's more an ode to Athens and democracy。 Fascinating stories by a fascinating author。 I do look forward to reading the sequel。 。。。more

Aurora ，

I enjoyed reading the interpretation of a hallmark battle of Ancient Greece。 Of course， this historical fiction must fill in blanks and it does not fail。 I am left in awe with the tremendous dedication in the face of of overwhelming force。 A lot to contemplate for our own lives。

Ernest Spoon ，

Man， this testosterone fueled， with a whiff of homoerotica。 But the setting is， after all， in the era we moderns have styled ¨classical Greece。" And fairly historically accurate--far more so than the 2006 film made from Frank Miller´s sword and sandal， gore porn ¨300。¨Thanks to Herodotus and archaeology we know the names of the principals。 And what we do not know from those sources Conn Iggulden fills in。 Xanthippus really was the husband of his politically connected heiress wife， Agariste， fath Man， this testosterone fueled， with a whiff of homoerotica。 But the setting is， after all， in the era we moderns have styled ¨classical Greece。" And fairly historically accurate--far more so than the 2006 film made from Frank Miller´s sword and sandal， gore porn ¨300。¨Thanks to Herodotus and archaeology we know the names of the principals。 And what we do not know from those sources Conn Iggulden fills in。 Xanthippus really was the husband of his politically connected heiress wife， Agariste， father of Ariphron and Pericles。 I can not say one way or the other as far as the historicity of the daughter， Eleni， as we know women in ancient Greece were second class citizens， at best？ And I think Iggulden took liberties with the action at the battle of Marathon but his primary protagonist in this outing， the above mentioned Xanthippus， did bring charges against its hero Miltiades。 Today we might say Xanthippus´ charges of covert treason against Miltiades are spurious and petty。 But what is a hero without a big， honking personality flaw？Themistocles。 the hero of the battle of Salamis， also takes much of center stage。 The reader is deliberately left-in-the-dark about his personal life， other than the political aspects of it。 Suffice it to say， Themistocles is Xanthippus´ ¨frenemy。¨And we are left with a cliffhanger ending， to be continued。。。 。。。more

Ian Pickford ，

Quickened after a plodding middle section。 Left me wanting to know what next。 A bit stereotyped， but engaging all the same

Alan Welch ，

Conn Iggulden is one of my favorite authors。 This new work is as masterful as ever。 The fact that two battles that took place two and a half thousand years ago are still being written about today is remarkable in itself！

Gladys Mckenzie ，

Half way through reading this book。 Find it quite enjoyable but too technical for my liking。 Anyone interested in war in ancient times would like this。Finally finished this book。 Although I enjoyed "The Gates of Athens"， I would not read the next book as I found it too technical。 Great reading for those interested in ancient warfare。 It is an abundance of historical knowledge and military terms of that era。 Half way through reading this book。 Find it quite enjoyable but too technical for my liking。 Anyone interested in war in ancient times would like this。Finally finished this book。 Although I enjoyed "The Gates of Athens"， I would not read the next book as I found it too technical。 Great reading for those interested in ancient warfare。 It is an abundance of historical knowledge and military terms of that era。 。。。more

Marc ，

A very solid first installment of Conn Iggulden’s new “Athenian” series and look forward to reading the next installments when published。 Opening with Marathon and closing with Thermopylae， the book covers about ten years， introducing us to characters such as King Darius， Xerxes， Xanthippus， Aristides Themistocles and Leonidas。 During these years we see how the Greeks fought at sea as well as on land and in the middle part of the book we are educated on the functioning of the Athenian government A very solid first installment of Conn Iggulden’s new “Athenian” series and look forward to reading the next installments when published。 Opening with Marathon and closing with Thermopylae， the book covers about ten years， introducing us to characters such as King Darius， Xerxes， Xanthippus， Aristides Themistocles and Leonidas。 During these years we see how the Greeks fought at sea as well as on land and in the middle part of the book we are educated on the functioning of the Athenian government， which provides some political intrigue away from battlefields which is nicely done。 。。。more

Geordiestulovesbks ，

Athenian History brought to lifeI love ancient history。 I also love to read historical fiction where characters and events are brought to life。 And I'm pleased to say that this book from Conn Iggulden is up there with his best。 Can't wait for his next。 If your a fan of Conn Iggulden or you are interested in Ancient history then this is a must。 Athenian History brought to lifeI love ancient history。 I also love to read historical fiction where characters and events are brought to life。 And I'm pleased to say that this book from Conn Iggulden is up there with his best。 Can't wait for his next。 If your a fan of Conn Iggulden or you are interested in Ancient history then this is a must。 。。。more

ian duggan ，

Enjoyable and well paced。 A different view of the Persian invasion of Greece and the battle of Thermopylae。 Looking forward to the next instalment

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Gates of Athens

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Gates of Athens&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Gates of Athens&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0