"David Gemmell - Lion of Macedon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gemmel David)

The Temple, Summer, 357 BC
Samothrace, Summer, 357 BC
The Temple, Summer, 357 BC
Lake Prespa, Midwinter, 356 BC
The Temple, Asia Minor, Winter, 356 BC
The Temple, Spring, 356 BC
Pella, Macedonia,
Isle of Samothrace,
The Temple,
Pella, Spring, 356 BC

Bibliography




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Author's Foreword


The world of the ancient Greeks was one of turmoil and war, intrigue and treachery. There was no
Greek nation; the divided land was ruled by scores of city states which fought continually for
domination.

For centuries the great cities of Athens and Sparta battled across land and sea for the right to
become the leaders of Greece. Thebes, Corinth, Orchomenus, Plataea - all changed sides time and
again and Victory flew between the warring factions, always the harlot, moving on, sweet with a
promise she would not keep.

The Greek wars were financed by Persia, fearful that a united Greece would seek to dominate the
world. The Persians grew rich and their empire flourished across Asia and Egypt, their power felt
in every city of the civilized world. But still their wary eyes watched events in Greece; for
twice the Persians had invaded the Greek mainland, and twice had suffered terrible defeats.

The Athenians and their allies crushed the army of Darius on the field of Marathon. Darius' son,
Xerxes, then led a massive army, numbering more than a quarter of a million men, to subdue Greece
once and for all.

A small Spartan force blocked their way at the pass of Thermopylae and held them for days. The
Persians won through at last, sacking the city of Athens and ravaging the countryside, until
finally they were decisively beaten in two battles. On land 5,000 Spartans, led by the general
Pausanius, inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Persian horde, while at sea the Athenian admiral
Themistocles destroyed the Persian fleet at Salamis.

Persia would never again invade, seeking instead to rule by intrigue.