Emphasis Preaching Journal

Stephen Pressfield's historical novel, Gates of Fire, tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of Xeones. The Persians capture Xeones, who is the only survivor of the battle, and force him to tell the story. Xerxes wonders how the small band of Spartans was able to hold off his army for so long. Xeones tells the story of having escaped the assault on his home by the Argive army and then coming to Sparta. Once there, he joined their army and went through the rigors of their training.