Zeus of Ithome
Set in Ancient Greece in 373 BC, Zeus of Ithome explores the end of three centuries of Messenian slavery at the hands of their brutal Spartan neighbours. The hero, Diocles, has been one of these slaves for all 17 years of his life, and when he falls foul of the Krypteia, a Spartan death squad, he is forced to flee. Outlawed, Diocles leaves his home, his family and his young love, but promises to return one day and liberate his people.
Diocles’ first encounter is on Mount Ithome, with Aristomenes, an old man whose heart still beats with the pride of his people, and who lives in the hope that one day the Messenians will regain their freedom. The story then follows Diocles’ journey through the Peloponnese, to the Oracle of Delphi, then on to Thebes, where he meets some of the most powerful men of the times and learns much about the arts of war.
Zeus of Ithome is a tale of conflict, both internal and external, as Diocles learns as much about himself, and his mother, as he does about the harsh realities of his world at war. Well-crafted and with an engaging narrative, Zeus of Ithome is interspersed with a detailed historical backdrop. The Messenian landscape comes to life, as do the other locations along Diocles’ journey. This is a work of fiction, based on fact and, as with all good historical fiction, I enjoyed learning about the ancient Greek culture and daily life. It is a well-researched novel intertwined with a heartwarming story that I would recommend to students of ancient Greece, or any historical fiction reader interested in this period.
