The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers and the Last Days of Greek Freedom

The Theban Sacred Band was a unit of 150 pairs of male lovers that fought for freedom, democracy, and the fate of Thebes in ancient Greece. They were annihilated by Philip II of Macedon and his son Alexander in the Battle of Chaeronea, ending Greek liberty for two thousand years.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

From the pen of the esteemed classicist James Romm comes a captivating and profound exploration into the final decades of ancient Greek freedom, culminating in the devastating destruction of Thebes by the legendary Alexander the Great. This captivating narrative delves into the remarkable saga of the Theban Sacred Band, a formidable military unit comprised of 150 pairs of male lovers.

The story of the Sacred Band, an elite 300-man corps recruited from pairs of lovers, highlights a tumultuous era of ancient Greek history, four decades marked by battles, ideological disputes, and the rise of ruthless strongmen. At stake was freedom, democracy, and the fate of Thebes, at this time the leading power of the Greek world.

The tale begins in 379 BC, with a group of Theban patriots sneaking into occupied Thebes. Disguised in women's clothing, they cut down the agents of Sparta, the state that had cowed much of Greece with its military might. To counter the Spartans, this group of patriots would form the Sacred Band, a corps whose history unfolds against the backdrop of Theban democracy, of desperate power struggles between leading city-states, and the newfound prominence of eros, sexual love, in Greek public life.

After four decades without a defeat, the Sacred Band was annihilated by the forces of Philip II of Macedon and his son Alexander in the Battle of Chaeronea—extinguishing Greek liberty for two thousand years. Buried on the battlefield where they fell, they were rediscovered in 1880—some skeletons still in pairs, with arms linked together.

From violent combat in city streets to massive clashes on open ground, from ruthless tyrants to bold women who held their era in thrall, The Sacred Band vividly recounts "in fluent, accessible prose" (The Wall Street Journal) the twists and turns of a crucial historical moment: the end of the treasured freedom of ancient Greece.

This captivating work of historical fiction offers a unique perspective on a tumultuous period in Greek history, shedding light on the complex dynamics of power, love, and warfare that shaped the ancient world. James Romm's meticulous research and vivid storytelling make this a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history, military history, or the human condition.

Weight: 286g
Dimension: 213 x 140 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501198021