Review of
Graeco-Persian
Wars,
by Konstantinos P. Kontorlis
Three out of five stars
The author was
Classics Master at the Varvakios School in Athens and that comes through in a
strong pro-Greek bias in this book. This is demonstrated in the first sentence
of the third paragraph of the book.
“The triumph of the small Greek world over the innumerable
armies of the East was mainly due to the divine light of freedom which for the
first time shone so brightly and which filled the hearts of the Greeks with an
incomparable heroism.”
Similar statements are made at various points, somewhat
overshadowing what was a victory that led to the rise of Greece to a dominant
position in the Eastern Mediterranean. Of course, this statement ignores the
fact that it is quite possible that there were more slaves in Greece at this
time than there were free people.
The battles
that led to a decisive victory of the Greeks over the Persians are described in
a manner that is accurate within the bias. Maps of the disposition of the
forces of both sides are given, it is clearly stated that the locations are
only probable rather than certain. It was a point where history could have
turned, had the Greeks been defeated it is possible that the course of Western
Civilization would have been very different.
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