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The Olympic Charioteer

by Helena Schrader

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Antyllus of Tegea had everything-wealth, power and respect-until his son was killed defending Tegea against Sparta. Now Tegea is on the rise, but Antyllus can find pleasure in nothing-not even his magnificent racehorses. While all Tegea believes Antyllus' chariot could bring Tegea an unprecedented Olympic victory, Antyllus knows that he lacks a driver capable of coaxing the best out of his team. More disturbing, Antyllus worries that Tegea's victory over Sparta is being used by certain radicals to undermine the democratic constitution. The Strategos that won the decisive victory is a demagogue-and he wants to extend the franchise to landless men. Out of spontaneous pity, Antyllus purchases an abused quarry slave. The slave not only carries the seemingly prophetic name of "Philip", (Lover of Horses) but has an uncanny affinity for horses as well. While Tegea slips into tyranny, Antyllus turns his back on politics and focuses his hopes and dreams on an Olympic Victory. This is the story of a slave and a charioteer in Archaic Greece. Based on Ancient sources but using predominantly fictional characters, The Olympic Charioteer describes the events that led to the establishment of the first "non-aggression pact" in recorded history.… (more)
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Engrossing as well as entertaining story of a Spartan father, Teleklos and his son, Lysandridas, of Olympic chariot racing and also the author's fictionalization of the bilateral pact between Sparta and Tegea in history, after a Sparta-Tegea War. This became a prototype of later treaties and basis for the Peloponnesian League. This was a fantastic story and certainly worth reading and rereading.

Lysandridas wins the 55th Olympic chariot race for his father, Teleklos, a horse breeder. During war between Sparta and Tegea, Lysandridas is captured and rescued from slavery by Antyllus, a wealthy Tegean aristocrat and horse-breeder. Antyllus recognizes the young man's talent for working with horses and love of the equines. Lysandridas is freed and works with the older man's horses, even driving his chariot racing team. He teaches the lame son of the Speaker of the Tegean Assembly, Ambelos, to ride; he and the lonely young man become best of friends and will remain so throughout the novel. Finding out his son hasn't been killed in battle, Teleklos makes his way to Tegea and brings his son back to Sparta, where Lysandridas is not accepted back by everyone. After much intrigue; a dictator seizing power in Tegea; and his eventual overthrow, finally the treaty is signed. Lysandridas is torn between staying in Tegea or returning to Sparta. What will his heart tell him to do?

The author wrote a wonderfully uplifting story; the humanity of her characters shone forth on every page. I CARED for them as people. The author's writing made me feel as though I were actually there in the midst of the story. I liked how she worked in some Spartan history and customs, even some of other City-States. The climactic 56th Olympic chariot race was really exciting. ( )
  janerawoof | Oct 28, 2014 |
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Antyllus of Tegea had everything-wealth, power and respect-until his son was killed defending Tegea against Sparta. Now Tegea is on the rise, but Antyllus can find pleasure in nothing-not even his magnificent racehorses. While all Tegea believes Antyllus' chariot could bring Tegea an unprecedented Olympic victory, Antyllus knows that he lacks a driver capable of coaxing the best out of his team. More disturbing, Antyllus worries that Tegea's victory over Sparta is being used by certain radicals to undermine the democratic constitution. The Strategos that won the decisive victory is a demagogue-and he wants to extend the franchise to landless men. Out of spontaneous pity, Antyllus purchases an abused quarry slave. The slave not only carries the seemingly prophetic name of "Philip", (Lover of Horses) but has an uncanny affinity for horses as well. While Tegea slips into tyranny, Antyllus turns his back on politics and focuses his hopes and dreams on an Olympic Victory. This is the story of a slave and a charioteer in Archaic Greece. Based on Ancient sources but using predominantly fictional characters, The Olympic Charioteer describes the events that led to the establishment of the first "non-aggression pact" in recorded history.

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