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Thousands of years ago, Herodotus and Plutarch immortalized Spartan society in their histories; but today, little is left of the ancient city or the social structure of this momentous culture. One of the few antiquarian marks of the civilization that has survived lies scores of miles away from Sparta, at a narrow Greek mountain pass called Thermopylae. It was there that three hundred of Sparta's finest warriors... (more)

Spartan: A Novel

by Valerio Manfredi

These eyes...he'd seen them before, staring at him, but he didn't remember where, or when. He remembered, without knowing why. In this epic story filled with passion, courage, and adventure, the author of the internationally bestselling Alexander trilogy tells the tale of two warriors united by blood and torn apart by law. This is the saga of a Spartan family, unraveled by a harsh custom of their people that... (more)

The Siege of the Fall of TroyRobert Graves

The Siege of the Fall of Troy

by Robert Graves

Theras and His Town

by Caroline Dale Snedeker

New reprint of 1924 novel by Caroline Dale Snedeker, including all original text. Grades 5+.Young Theras, born an Athenian, is taken to Sparta by a relative when his father is lost at war. He is forced to live like a Spartan, a brutal life with no pity for those who are not physically perfect and totally obedient to Spartan control. After enduring rigorous training and repeated cruel incidents, he escapes... (more)

The Spartans

The World of the Warrior-Heroes of Ancient Greece

by Paul Cartledge

The Spartans were a society of warrior-heroes who were the living exemplars of such core values as duty, discipline, self-sacrifice, and extreme toughness. This book, written by one of the world’s leading experts on Sparta, traces the rise and fall of Spartan society and explores the tremendous influence the Spartans had on their world and even on ours. Paul Cartledge brings to life figures like legendary founding... (more)

Thermopylae: The Battle for the West

by Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford

"A gripping story." -- Economist An impressively accessible narrative depicting the three-day battle for the pass at Thermopylae (the Hot Gates)--a critical contest in Xerxes's massive invasion of Greece. The bloody stand made there by Leonidas and his small Spartan army in 480 B.C. has been hailed ever since as an outstanding example of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice.

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Gates of Fire

by Steven Pressfield