Gates of Fire

This chapter begins with Xeones’s meditation on the thoughts that go through a warrior’s mind just before combat begins, saying that they think first of their family, then of those already dead, and finally of the gods, before turning their attention back to the present and their current companions.

He remembers how, on the evening following of the first day of fighting, Elephantinos had made his way through the campfires, spreading good cheer, and had made clear his intention to stay and fight with the Spartans. Although he was a stranger, the threat of the Persians and the labor he has shared in common with the soldiers have bonded the merchant to the Spartans. Elephantinos states: “I have searched all my life for that which you have possessed from birth, a noble city to belong to” (452).

After Elephantinos has moved on from Xeones’s campfire, Suicide, who typically barely says anything, begins to speak. He tells how when he first came to Sparta that he had thought the phalanx “the most ludicrous form of warfare I had ever seen. In my country we fight on horseback […] But I admired the men, their virtue, which was so clearly superior to that of every other nation I had observed and studied” (453-54). Suicide’s reflections on Spartan training and discipline continue for a bit, and he praises the Spartans highly.

After a time, Dienekes and Xeones are called away from Suicide’s reverie to Leonidas’s council. As they walk, Dienekes reveals that, from Elephantinos and Suicide, he has learned the answer to his earlier question: “The opposite of fear […] is love” (457).

The would-be assassins enter Xerxes’s tent and find themselves in concubines’ quarters. They make a mad dash to find the Xerxes in his royal quarters, where he is surrounded by his ministers and generals. Their attack is disrupted by the chaos of scores of pet birds being released. In the confusion, the guards close rank around Xerxes and repel the Spartans. Alexandros, just as he is about to plunge his spear into Xerxes, has his hand cut off. The Spartans take flight. Three of their number have been slain, and the rest are all wounded to some degree.

The retreating Spartans make their way through the enemy encampment, moving slowly due to their wounds. Despite a tourniquet being applied to his wrist, Alexandros continues to bleed profusely and goes into shock. His stump is cauterized, but he continues to bleed internally from a wound in his chest.

Suicide has been wounded in the groin, and Xeones must carry him. Dienekes has been wounded in his leg and can barely hobble. On the outskirts of the camp, they come across a party sent to help them in their return. They learn that Leonidas has sent home all the allies; only the Spartans will remain for the final day of battle.

Dienekes notices that Alexandros has died and howls in grief. 

The narrative briefly shifts to Gobartes’s perspective six weeks after the battle. The Persian army sets Athens to the torch, and Xeones’s health goes into sharp decline. When he receives word that the priestesses of Diomache’s have been evacuated from the temple, he calms down enough to finish his story.

The raiders reenter the Greek camp as the sun rises. They bury Alexandros and Hound. Polynikes places a coin commemorating his second Olympic victory in Alexandros’s mouth to pay Charon, the ferryman to the underworld. Despite having been extra hard on Alexandros, Polynikes now says that “he was the best of us all” (476).

The Ten Thousand Immortals are spotted approaching the rear. The Spartan allies march out. Rooster is among those leaving, and he promises to bring news of Alexandros and Olympieus to their widows. Rooster pays his last respects to Alexandros and then urges Xeones to leave with him, since all of the helots and squires have been released from service. Xeones refuses, despite Rooster reminding him that he has a family.

The Thespaians, under their captain Dithyrambos, have refused to evacuate. In total, about 500 men remain. The marine, Tommie, arrives again, to ask the Spartans to surrender. Tommie tells them that “Xerxes does not want your lives…only your arms” (483). Leonidas replies, “Tell him to come and get them” (483).

After scorning Tommie’s offer, Leonidas gives a speech to the men, reminding them that their sacrifice will inspire the rest of Greece to fight to the death. Other speeches follow. In recognition that the battle has obliterated any difference between the soldiers, they swap equipment, until the mix of gear makes it impossible to tell them apart by either origin or rank. Dienekes gives the final speech and adjures the men to forget everything, country, family, and honor, and focus only on the man beside them. As Leonidas gives one last encouragement, the Persians come into view.