Gates of Fire Summary

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Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield Summarized by: PFC Claypool, Jordan The Gates of Fire is a historical fiction war thriller set in the times of ancient Greece. The story is told (mostly) through the Helot Xeones who is the protagonist in this story. It is also told through Xerxes historian who records Xeones tale and takes on the role of a third person narrator occasionally throughout the story. Xeones has been captured alive by Xerxes army and is being held captive solely to tell the story of those he fought alongside with at the battle of Thermopylae and the years/moments leading up to their heroic last stand to the death. Xeones begins with the story of his childhood. Son of Skamandridas of Astakos, a city in Akarnania, Xeones' (who was just a regular farm boy) childhood was ruined by raiders of Argives. who were supposed to be Astakos' allies but turned on them by raiding, burning, and pillaging Xeones' city. Xeones' family was killed and he regretted not being able to die along side of them in their defense despite his young age. Xeones had two friends very dear to him during his trials after the raid to survive off the wilderness and seek a new life in a city. Their names were Bruxieus and Diomache. Diomache was cousin to Xeones as well as his obsession though the feeling was not mutual for her. For several winters they lived in the wilds where they learned to hunt and take care of themselves. Eventually Bruxieus dies and tells them to head for athens as it is the only way to truly continue their lives as real people and not wild savages. Not to long after Bruxieus' death, Diomache and Xeones depart on separate paths. Diomache to Athens and Xeones to Sparta (out of his own passion and will to become a man). They do not see each other for several years and when they do it is brief. Xeones Becomes a helot of

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