The Dawn of Democracy: Ancient Athens

Author: Time-Life Books
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Eufelitos is a fortunate man. He has everything a citizen of Athens could hope for. He has a house in the city, a country estate, a wife known as "the most chaste woman in the city," and a son who can carry on the family line. However, this was before he discovered his wife's affair. One night, the maid told him that a man named Eratostenes was waiting at his wife's residence. So, Eufelitos immediately put on his coat, slipped on his sandals, and ran through the streets, calling on his neighbors to witness the violation of his family. Upon returning home, he led the leaders to his wife's room. By the flickering light of the torch in his hand, they saw a couple, naked, hastily covering themselves. Eufelitos then bound the man who had intruded into his home. Filled with righteous anger and supported by the laws of Athens, he killed the man. But was there more to the story? Was Eufelitos too calm and calculating in the face of his wife's infidelity? The family of Eratostenes saw it this way, so they turned him in to the court, accusing him of premeditated murder. The Dawn of Democracy: Ancient Athens is one of the titles in Time-Life Books' world history series Living in Ancient Times. This volume tells the captivating story of Eufelitos and his wife, along with other real and moving anecdotes about men and women who lived during the golden age of Athens. It highlights both the political, military, and philosophical innovations that shaped an unparalleled era in human history, as well as the daily life of the ancient Greeks. In this book, readers will stroll through the bustling Agora market in Athens, passing by cobblers, wine merchants, and slave traders. There, they can almost smell the fragrant aroma of stew cooking with herbs and the unpleasant stench of live sheep and pigs. Around them, dancers, magicians, and street performers are all putting in their best efforts to earn a few coins. To help readers immerse themselves in the experience, the book includes vivid illustrations of daily life, such as vases depicting sprinters racing toward the finish line at the frequent athletic events, paintings of classroom activities, lifelike sculptures and illustrations that reveal the Greeks' ideals of beauty, and breathtaking photographs of Greek monuments and scenic landscapes that transport readers back to ancient times. To compile this series, the team at Time-Life Books thoroughly explored the collections of scholars, travelers, museums, and universities. They not only provided each book with rich illustrations of artworks and crafts to vividly recreate the lost way of life but also created various maps, reconstructions of cities and buildings, and detailed reconstructions of the entire world in which the stories took place. The opening overview is a thought-provoking historical essay accompanied by a timeline, giving readers a clear understanding of the era being described. The narrative is engaging and unconventional. Every detail, image, anecdote, and historical fact will transport readers to that distant time, allowing them to experience what life was like in those bygone days.