"An incisive, inspiring and vitally illuminating account . . . A masterful book written by a master historian." --Bettany Hughes, bestselling author, Istanbul and Helen of Troy

This is the riveting, definitive account of the ancient Greek city of Thebes by Paul Cartledge, the acclaimed author of The Spartans.

Among the extensive writing available about the history of Ancient Greece, there is precious little about the city-state of Thebes. At one point the most powerful city in Ancient Greece, Thebes has been long overshadowed by its better-known rivals, Athens and Sparta.

In Thebes: The Forgotten City of Ancient Greece, acclaimed classicist and historian Paul Cartledge brings the city vividly to life and argues that it is central to our understanding of the Ancient Greeks' achievements--whether political or cultural--and thus to the wider politico-cultural traditions of Western Europe, the Americas, and indeed the world. Chapters include:

• City of Myth: The Theban Cycle
• City of Prehistory and Protohistory: Archaeology, the Linear B Tablets, and Homer
• Religion
• Politics
• Foreign Affairs
• City of Song: Pindar and Athenian Tragedy
• The Peloponnesian and Corinthian Wars

Written in clear prose, Thebes is a gripping read for students of ancient history and those looking to experience the real city behind the myths of Cadmus, Hercules, and Oedipus.

Includes 16-page insert