This is an extract from 'Gates of Fire', historical fiction by Steven Pressfield.
Xeones, was born in the city of Astakos and later he is orphaned when the city is betrayed and sacked. he moves into the hills and stays with his cousin, Diomache.
They were defeated by Argives, the original inhabitants of Argos. They were later named as Greeks. Xeones was rescued by Apollo after the battle of Thermopylae. Xeones heard a lot about the Spartans and considered them as Gods.
