The civilization of the ancient fifth century BC Mediterranean blossoms into life in Mika Waltari's outstanding historical novel of love, war, greed, and spiritual tumult.

Beginning in Ionia in 498 BC with the burning of the Lydian capital, Sardis, the story of Lars Turms sweeps across the Mediterranean to Delphi, Athens, then Sicily, before finally ending in Rome and ancient Etruria. Along the way, we encounter Greek warriors and pirates, Carthaginian merchants and princes, strange priests and priestesses, and trading centers, great and small. It is a fascinating glimpse of a world on the verge of wrenching change. Few cultures will survive unscathed.

With Greece on the cusp of war against mighty Persia in the East and wealthy Carthage in the West, the peoples of a dozen cultures hold their breath in anticipation. The old ways will not survive the probing, skeptical minds of the Greeks, and Lars Turms' destiny is to accommodate himself and his people to altering circumstances far different from anything he could have possibly anticipated.

This exciting novel plays out on the background of actual historical events and real personalities. In order to enhance your enjoyment, we urge listeners to access the included PDF map of the ancient Mediterranean and the brief historical explanation.