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:

The Athenian heroes of Marathon did not remain brothers in arms after the battle. There was the diplomat, Aristides the Just; the self-made man, the ambitious Themistocles, the leader and military strategist, Miltiades, and Xanthippus, father of the later infamous Pericles.

Conn Iggulden

The city was surrounded by defensive walls from the Bronze Age and they were rebuilt and extended over the centuries. 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 . . . In this book we follow for the main part the resourceful leader of Athens of that time being, Themistocles, the one with his cunning and dare will be victorious against the Persians at salamis, where at first he'll be celebrated as a hero but later on will be treated as an outcast, with close associates by the name of, Xanthippus, Aristides and Cimon also important during this Battle, also in attendance are Agariste, wife of Xanthippus, and their children, Ariphron, Eleni, and a young man to remember, Pericles, while Epikleos is always by Xanthippus's side as a faithful friend. The Prytaneion, a round building close to the Bouleuterion, built c. 470 BC by Cimon, which served as the Prytaneion, in which the Prytaneis took their meals and offered their sacrifices.

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. The City, properly so called, divided into The Upper City or Acropolis, and The Lower City, surrounded with walls by Themistocles. Henderson, J. (1993) Comic Hero versus Political Elite pp. 307–319 in Sommerstein, A.H.; S. Halliwell; J. Henderson; B. Zimmerman, eds. (1993). Tragedy, Comedy and the Polis. Bari: Levante Editori.

Conn Iggulden writes really well and his battle scenes in the Roman Caesar and Mongol series (all of which I absolutely loved) are superb. Yet here, the battles seem a mere prologue and epilogue to the meat of Athenian life. Mi único pero… es que a pesar de narrar desde los personajes, lo que estos hacen y hasta cierto punto sienten, los percibí más bien lejanos… casi ajenos a la historia (perdón si no logro explicarme). Con el único que sentí algún tipo de empatía fue con Jantipo, quizás porque es el eje central de la obra. For a novelist who is well known for writing fiction specialising in warfare throughout history, the account of Salamis is strangely unsatisfactory. I wonder why he avoids the drama and tension among the commanders of the Greek forces before the battle, why he chooses to have Themistocles send his misleading letters to Xerxes during the heat of conflict, thus destroying the high points of the narrative of Herodotus, the ancient historian of Salamis.

Featuring two of the most famous battles of the Ancient World, The Gates of Athens is a bravura piece of storytelling about a people driven to preserve their freedom at any cost.The almost complete absence of female characters resulted in a sense of unbalance. I could never establish what life in Athens at the time was like for anyone other than military men. There were no ordinary characters or females playing any significant roll; Xanthippus’ wife, Agariste, is mentioned only in passing, for example. Amazing plot progression and alteration of pace throughout, with a variety of historical figures, all whilst drip feeding historical information that was so interesting and educational whilst not detracting from the main focuses. Masterful. I never thought I would find these ancient Greek wars so immersive, but Iggulden has a talent for writing battle scenes and political intriges that will get you on the edge of your seat. But wow, how amazing The Gates of Athens was. One of my favourite historical fiction books of all time. Actually, one of my favourite books of all time, regardless of genre. In this we experience the battle of Marathon, as well as Thermopalae, and much more, with Conn Iggulden somehow crafting magnificent characters in a subtle and understated manner that paid off so, so well. I send this shaft as my vow,” Xerxes heard his father murmur. “God, let me punish the Athenians as they deserve.”