At the Hot Gates: An Account of the Battle of Thermopylae

by Samson, Adam Agee (Illustrator)

Overview

It's the year 480 BC and the greatest army ever gathered in the ancient world is on the march to conquer all of Greece. An irresistible force, they overwhelm all who dare to stand in their way. One man steps forward to stop them, followed by 300 companions. This man is Leonidas. His companions are Spartans. They march to stop the Persian advance and meet their destiny at the narrows known as the Hot Gates.

Twelve-year-old Agis runs away from his boys' group to track the march of the fated 300. He is motivated by the powerful impulse to follow his father into battle and join him fighting the Persians. His presence is discovered too late to send hm back home. Instead, Agis is integrated into the forces and contributes as a look-out to help the Spartans see what is coming before it arrives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781732537293
Publisher:	Star Trilogy Publishing
Publication date:	10/22/2024
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	8.08(w) x 9.47(h) x 0.32(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Mr. Samson has taught and mentored in Waldorf Schools since 1989. He was a Waldorf class teacher for nineteen years, and his teaching experience spans grades 1-12. In 2013, he began mentoring teachers, working in Colorado with both private as well as public Waldorf charter schools. For the past thirty-four years he has lived with his family along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

Read an Excerpt

The bushes to my left shook violently and I whirled around to meet the intruder. I clutched my spear in both hands and readied it at eyelevel. I steeled myself to drive the point right into his teeth. My full attention was in front of me, so I was taken by surprise when a pair of massive arms suddenly enfolded me from behind in a bear hug. With my arms pinned to my sides, I could only kick with my legs, but it did little good. I was lifted off the ground. I bent my neck to try to bite his arms, but I couldn't reach. Without loosening his vise grip, he shoved my head hard to the left, and the muscles in my neck screamed in protest. Then I felt the cold metal of the man's helmet pressed against my cheek.
“Get quiet, or I'll break your neck,” he growled into my ear.
It was a Spartan voice, so I knew he meant it. I stopped kicking and struggling.
“Now drop the spear,” he commanded.
With my arms pinned, my makeshift spear was dangling from my fingertips. I let it drop.
“Real easy now,” he said. I thought he was going to let me go. I was ready, the moment my feet touched the ground, to dash through the thicket and escape. Perhaps he sensed my muscles tensing. Whatever the reason, he smashed me to the ground on my face. I was stunned from the blow. Then I felt his knee in my back, pressing the air out of my lungs.
“Stay put!” he ordered.
He roughly grabbed my arms and pulled them behind me. I wondered for a brief moment if he were about to drive his sword between my shoulder blades.
“Thanatos!” I prayed silently. “O, Death, come thou quickly that I make no noise to shame me.” But instead of thrusting his sword into my back, he dragged me to my feet by my long hair and held on firmly. I struggled again and only now noticed that when he had thrown me to the ground, he had bound my hands behind me.