Kindle Edition Amazon Amazon US Amazon UK Category:  Historical Fiction Publisher: Crooked Cat ISBN-10:  1909841218 Type: Fiction Pages: 316 ISBN-13: 9781909841215 Price: $3.32 (eBook) A tale, based on real events, of the struggle of the ancient Messenian people to free themselves from three centuries of slavery under the Spartans. Greece, 373 BC. For three centuries, the Messenian people have been brutally subjugated by their Spartan neighbours and forced to work the land as helot slaves. Diocles, a seventeen-year-old helot, has known no other life but servitude. After an encounter with Spartan assassins, he is forced to flee, leaving behind his family and his sweetheart, Elpis. On Mount Ithome, the ancient sanctuary of the Messenians, he meets Aristomenes, an old rebel who still remembers the proud history of their people and clings to a prophecy that they will one day win back their freedom. A forlorn hope, perhaps. But elsewhere in Greece, there are others too who believe it is time that the power of Sparta was broken.       Excerpt The old man made his way slowly up the winding path to the summit of the mountain. It was not yet dawn and the faint glow in the eastern sky provided scant illumination to guide him. But it was enough. Though the path had been here for centuries, in recent years it had been his feet alone that had kept the grass from reclaiming it. They knew the way, even if his eyes could not see it. Gradually, the ground about him turned from black, to grey, to brown; and out of the gloom emerged his own long shadow, looming in front of him like the silhouette of some great god. The path began to level out, and soon he could see in front of him the columns of a ruined temple: pink fingers against the dark blue of the sky. He was tired from his long climb, but this sight raised his spirits, as it always did. He lived a solitary life: often months would go by between encounters with other human beings, but he did not feel alone here. This was a poor home for a god, he observed sadly as he sat down to rest upon a cylinder of fluted marble that had once been the base of a great pillar. Like many of the others, that pillar now lay in fragments scattered around the small summit plateau. Plants grew over them, thrusting roots into many deep cracks. Nevertheless, he had no doubt that Zeus Ithomatas still lived here. Where else would Zeus of Ithome live but upon Mount Ithome itself? Certainly not in the mean, shabby little temple where he was now worshipped in the valley far below. His very name proclaimed his union with this mountain. His power was still strong here. Why else would the Spartans forbid their helot slaves from visiting the ancient home of their great protector? He could feel the God’s presence – particularly now in the stillness of dawn, before even the birds had broken the silence with their song. It seemed to fill the air around him; to seep into every pit and crevice of those ancient stones. And he knew that the God was aware of his presence too. Zeus Ithomatas was listening ... waiting. It was time. His brief rest had allowed his laboured breathing to return to normal. A halo of light above the Taygetus Mountains to the east promised the imminent arrival of the sun. He made his way around the fallen columns to a stone altar which still stood in what had once been the innermost recess of the temple. He brushed away the few old bones which lay upon it, and from an animal skin bag that hung from his shoulders he took the carcass of a hare, laying it carefully upon the altar in their place. Then he took from the bag a small jar of wine, unsealing it and pouring the contents over the hare and the altar. He threw back his head, raised his arms into the air and called out to the God. “Zeus Ithomatas, father and protector of the Messenians, I bring you this humble offering of meat and wine as proof that your house is still remembered and revered. I thank you for keeping me safe upon this mountain. And I seek your help and guidance. “You know that in all the years that I have been visiting you here, I have never given up hope that one day I will play my part in freeing this country from slavery and restoring your house to its true dignity. “When my ancestors relinquished control of this land three centuries ago, they yielded to a prophecy telling them that their war was lost. It was also prophesied that one day the Messenians would recover this land. The gods have now given us signs that this day will be soon. But I do not know how soon, and I do not know what I must do to help bring it about. So I ask you for inspiration, so that I may help fulfil Messenia’s destiny, and mine.” He knelt down in front of the altar and closed his eyes, remaining still for quite some time. There came upon him an air of serenity; a profound sense that the God was listening to him, watching over him. But what did not come was an answer. Zeus of Ithome smiled and soothed, but he did not speak. At length the old man rose, thanked the God once more and set off back down the mountain, now bathed in light from the newly-risen sun. At first he maintained the dignified silence appropriate for someone in the presence of a deity, but as he left the summit his movements became more agitated and he began to mutter and grumble to himself. “How stupid I was to ask questions of Zeus Ithomatas as if he were Apollo of Delphi! The gods do not speak to mortal men except through oracles. Zeus must be on the verge of despair if he has no other servants but an old fool like me.” As he cursed, his eye was caught by a flash of movement in the sky. He turned to his right and saw a great bird soaring above the flank of the mountain. An eagle, the last emblem of free Messenia, and the symbol of Zeus Ithomatas himself! It was a good omen. Surely it must be a sign from the God that the time was indeed near – that he would lend his powers to the struggle. So Zeus had spoken to him after all, in the only way he could. As to what he must do, he would have to seek guidance elsewhere. The old man stood and watched the eagle until it flew out of sight before resuming his descent, in much better heart than he had begun it. A little later he paused for a moment and looked back towards the summit, where the surviving columns of the temple were still visible. “I shall make another offering tomorrow,” he told himself.

What a wonderful tale!
This is a book with a wealth of classical history wrapped up in wonderful fiction. I really enjoyed T. E. Taylor's writing style - very engaging narrative interspersed with superbly detailed narrative backdrop. The Messenian landscape came to life, as did the other surrounding states as Diocles journeys around them. Though acknowledging it as a work of fiction, I felt I learned a lot about Ancient Greek culture and daily life, those details so well meshed within the story. There are many characters in the tale which kept me on my metaphorical toes, all well portrayed - some very likeable and some less so, making for a good balance. It's very easy to care a lot for Diocles and his mentor Aristomenes, the development of their characters so well rounded that I found Aristomenes' ageing very poignant.
I read the initial taking up of arms as though looking over the shoulder of an untried Diocles: that raw youth who matures a lot in the ensuing few years. Towards the end of the story, I was still reading over Diocles' shoulder, but he was, by then, a vastly more competent and well trained soldier. The battles are well depicted, yet are not overtly bloody. There's an endearing general naivety about Diocles at the beginning which isn't really lost at the end- even though he has become such an important leader in the interim. This wasn't a book that I read quickly (and I am quite a fast reader) since I felt I'd miss too much if I didn't pay close attention.
If you enjoy reading about ancient times, I really think you'll find a lot to like in Zeus of Ithome.

Prepare to go back in time
This is a terrific story, with pace, characters to care about and a wealth of fascinating information about a period in time I knew nothing about. It made me want to visit Greece and fish out maps and history books to see what happened next.

A Moving and Dramatic Account
An ancient story of slavery is uncovered, and the ugly truth about the Spartan warriors is laid bare in this excellent historical novel.
The true nature of the Spartans is revealed through the words of Aristomenes, who recounts the history of his people to Diocles, a Messenian slave, and they venture forth to seek guidance from the Oracle at Delphi for the liberation of their people from the Spartans.
Diocles has a wooden carving of an eagle round his neck, the symbol of freedom, given by his sweetheart, Elpis. He does not fully understand the advice from the oracle at first, but makes a new friend in Epaminondas who embraces the idea of a Panhellenic League of free and independent states. But first, Thebes and the Boetian League must break the back of Sparta, aided by a revolt of the Messenian slaves.
This is historical fiction at its best - explaining with lucidity the politics and military strategies in ancient Greece in a fast flowing style, which captures the simplicity of rural life in those days. And the bustle of political debate, the yells, catcalls and jostling between the factions put me in mind of parliamentary sessions nearer home...
The Ancient Greeks were not ashamed to ask their gods for help before they acted. The survivors did not hesitate to show refreshing happiness and thankfulness for the lives of their comrades killed in battle defending their freedom. They thanked the gods for their sacrifices, followed by wholehearted celebrations of life, with wine and roasting meat.
Thank you for this wonderful read, and I look forward to more from Tim Taylor.